Middle School Counselor, Beginning Academic Year

Middle School Counselor

Collegiate School seeks a committed and experienced Middle School Counselor with a passion for working with Middle School students and faculty. The Middle School Counselor will help build a healthy culture that cultivates student agency, inclusion, growth, discovery, and joy as it connects with Collegiate's Portrait of a Graduate. The Counselor reports to the Head of the Middle School and collaborates with the administrative and student support team.

This is a full-time 10-month position.

General Responsibilities include:

• Offer individualized counseling support to students
• Collaborate with faculty to promote student growth and belonging holistically.
• Communicate with parents regularly about developmental and social-emotional concerns
• Design developmentally appropriate SEL curriculum, and collaborate with teachers and advisors as they implement lessons
• Facilitate needs-based small groups on a variety of topics
• Design parent workshops and faculty training on topics related to child development, social-emotional learning and mental health
• Respond to mental health crises and provide ongoing support to students and families while collaborating with community resources.
• Facilitate referrals to community providers and communicate with outside professionals to ensure continuity of care for students
• Collaborate regularly with JK-12 counseling team and serve on various school-wide committees
• Assist and support students with the transition from 4th to 5th grade and 8th to 9th grade
• Serve on hiring teams for various positions in the Middle School
• Support new students to Collegiate as they transition to the school

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications:

• Master's degree in school counseling, counseling or a related field
• At least three years of experience in a Middle School setting or with middle school-aged children
• Experience in and commitment to the ongoing development of an inclusive campus community.
• Experience developing and implementing social and emotional curriculum
• Interpersonal skills for communicating effectively with and supporting all members of the Collegiate community, including students, parents, faculty and staff.
• Maintain accurate records and balance confidentiality with collaboration with teachers and support staff.

It is critical that candidates demonstrate a commitment to the School's Core Values and Mission

Honor

Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.

Love of Learning

A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.

Excellence

A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

Respect

Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.

Community

A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world.

Required Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate the School's shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments.
• Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to a servant leadership model focusing on the growth and development of the team to successfully fulfill shared goals.
• Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School's mission and values. Offers assistance within the office especially during busy times.
• Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative manner.
• Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located in Henrico County, within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.

The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.

Why Collegiate?

Collegiate School is well-regarded for developing students into citizens who lead, serve and shape the world. We do so with the help of a caring faculty and staff who also have opportunities to lead, serve and shape the world, through the young lives they touch.

Below are just a few examples of some of the great advantages of working at Collegiate:

• Excellent professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Collaborative working environment
• A rich employee benefits package (which includes free lunch!)
• Opportunities for growth and leadership
• An environment that fosters creative and innovative instruction

The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.