School Counselor Shared Position

School Counselor (Shared Position) St. Ambrose School (Old Bridge, NJ) & St. Thomas the Apostle School (Old Bridge, NJ) Position Summary St. Ambrose School and St. Thomas the Apostle School, two Catholic schools within the Diocese of Metuchen, are seeking a compassionate, student-centered School Counselor to serve students in grades PreK-8. This shared position requires the counselor to work two days per week at St. Ambrose School and two days per week at St. Thomas the Apostle School, providing social-emotional support, crisis intervention, and guidance services that foster the academic, emotional, social, and spiritual growth of students. The successful candidate will embrace the mission and values of Catholic education while working collaboratively with school administrators, faculty, parents, and diocesan personnel to support student well-being. Primary Responsibilities Student Support Provide short-term, solution-focused individual and small group counseling for students experiencing academic, social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Meet with students experiencing emotional crises or other urgent concerns and provide appropriate intervention. Help students navigate sensitive topics such as peer conflict and friendships, anxiety and stress, grief and loss, family changes, emotional regulation, self-esteem, digital citizenship and responsible technology use. Assess student needs and make referrals to outside mental health providers when appropriate. Family Communication Communicate with parents and guardians regarding significant student concerns while maintaining appropriate confidentiality. Partner with families and school administrators to develop strategies that support student success at school and home. School-Wide Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Develop and coordinate school-wide Social Emotional Learning initiatives. Plan and facilitate classroom guidance lessons and assemblies centered on respect, kindness, bullying prevention, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, character development, and conflict resolution. Work with teachers to integrate SEL principles into classroom practices. Collaborate regularly with principals, teachers, learning support staff, and diocesan personnel regarding student concerns. Catholic School Environment Demonstrate, support and uphold the mission, teachings, traditions and philosophy of Catholic education and the Catholic Church Ensure counseling practices align with the policies and expectations of the Catholic Church while fostering an environment rooted in dignity, respect, and Gospel values. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's Degree in School Counseling, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field with appropriate New Jersey certification or licensure (School Counselor certification preferred). Experience working with school-aged children, preferably in a faith-based setting. Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality while exercising sound professional judgment. Ability to work independently across two school campuses. Knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Social Emotional Learning frameworks. Experience conducting classroom guidance lessons and school-wide wellness programming. Familiarity with crisis intervention and suicide risk assessment protocols. Schedule Two days per week at St. Ambrose School Two days per week at St. Thomas the Apostle School Schedule determined collaboratively by both school principals.