Upper School Counselor (2026-2027)

Job Description

Job Description

FTE : 1.0 FTE 
Appointment Year: School Year
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Lakeside is an independent coeducational day school located in North Seattle. We are currently recruiting for a full time (1.0 FTE) Upper School Counselor, which is a full-time 10 months/year appointment with a targeted start of early November 2026.

The Upper School Counselor will have expertise concerning the social, emotional, and developmental needs of adolescent students in grades 9-12 and will embrace strengths-based and culturally responsive perspectives. The Counselor will work as a collaborative member of the Student Support Team (SST) which, at the Upper School, includes another full-time upper school counselor, a full-time middle and upper school (cross-divisional) counselor, two learning resources coordinators, a family support liaison, the athletic trainer, school nurse, an assistant director and the director of student and family support. The Upper School Counselor will provide counseling for students in grades 9-12, and work with the student body, teachers, administration, parents/guardians, and outside providers to help ensure the well-being of all students.

Lakeside: Fast Facts 

Responsibilities: 

1. Provide direct 1:1 and small group culturally responsive counseling services, including crisis counseling, time-limited interventions, and assessment for triage and referral purposes
2. Provide crisis intervention and safety assessments according to the school’s safety protocol
3. Facilitate academic accommodations process and provide ongoing case management for students with a documented qualifying mental health diagnosis
4. Serve as a liaison with parents, guardians, faculty, and administrators about student mental health issues
5. Provide education on culturally relevant social-emotional topics to students and faculty in small groups as well as in larger meetings
6. Be an active and engaged member of the Student Support Team. This includes attending and participating in twice weekly Student Support Team meetings to discuss students and families in need of support, following through on relevant action items, and collaborating and consulting with the middle and upper school counselors and Student Support Team as needed.
7. Attend and participate in student retreats
8. Participate in larger support meetings related to students’ academic and emotional well-being.
9. Maintain an open and inviting atmosphere in the counseling center including intentionality in appealing to different and diverse groups of students
10. Engage in aspects of the co-curricular and extracurricular life of the school to be known and recognized by students
11. Stay up to date on relevant professional development with an emphasis on issues of multiculturalism, intersectionality and diversity in counseling
12. Keep current with laws and ethical best practices governing confidentiality as they pertain to adolescents and mental health services in schools

Required Qualifications

• An advanced degree in counseling, school counseling, psychology, school psychology, marriage and family therapy, or social work
• Training and experience with a range of treatment options for a diverse high school population 
• Training and experience with safety and risk assessment
• A strong foundation in culturally responsive counseling including: an understanding of social and historical context of counseling, facility with cross-cultural dynamics, understanding of the importance of identity development, familiarity with cross-cultural counseling research and a strong commitment to ongoing professional and personal development in this area
• Demonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of self and the cultural lenses one brings to interactions. A successful candidate will understand different perspectives, interact respectfully with cultures and identities other than one’s own, and cultivate meaningful relationships with people of a wide range of gender identities, sexual orientations, religious identities, socioeconomic statuses, and ethnicities
• Ability to balance independent work and self-management while also working in a multidisciplinary team and the ability to maintain a sense of humor and see the positive in challenging situations
• Ability to connect with adolescents while maintaining appropriate boundaries and the ability to generate and implement creative and innovative ideas for engaging and working with students
• Strong attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate information about complex student information in a respectful and clear manner. Familiarity and comfort using computers (PC/Windows and Microsoft Office) is essential
• Candidates must satisfactorily complete two criminal background checks

Preferred Qualifications

• A mental health license or being license-eligible is preferred.
• Experience working with high school-aged adolescents in an educational setting and/or counseling centers is preferred, though those with experience that has focused on early college or late middle school years also are encouraged to apply.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by (an) individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities related to the position. This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and school policy and procedures. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $74,921-$132,636. Pay is based on several factors and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 

Lakeside School is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding candidates and provides a competitive compensation package. Lakeside School offers a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive set of benefits, including:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance (based on FTE)

• Dependent medical and vision subsidy

• Retirement with generous employer contribution

• Life/disability insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Flexible spending accounts

• Free lunch

• Free parking