Director of College Counseling

July 2021

University School of Nashville invites qualified candidates to apply for the full time, 12-month position of Director of College Counseling.  This position, sitting on the High School Leadership Team, brings with it the opportunity to lead one of the culminating experiences at USN.  More than college counseling alone, the position is designed to help students both consider the legacies they are leaving behind on Edgehill and discover the conditions that will allow them to thrive in their next academic setting.  

USN’s approach to college counseling flows from the school’s larger philosophy that students should have an increasing sense of agency as they mature throughout their high school careers.  The office, under the director’s leadership, strives to keep students at the center of the process, reminds students of the balanced perspective necessary in a successful college search, and encourages students to live in the present as much as the future as it pertains to their interests and course of study.  USN’s College Counseling office has enjoyed great success as it emphasizes a student’s search orienting itself around emerging passions, optimal fit, and personal drive.   The process should in and of itself be a growth-oriented one for young adults.

In an era in which Covid-19 and the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal have created considerable evolution in the college search process, the Director will serve as a critical guide for students, families, and the school community as that evolution is understood in the context of current college admissions realities.  This position, reporting to the Head of High School, will leverage emerging trends, data, and best practice to lead a collaborative office of professionals.  

The director will further USN’s commitment to delivering the developmentally-appropriate college counseling program, primarily targeted at juniors and seniors. The successful candidate can anticipate working with 25 to 35 families in a given admissions cycle, serving as a liaison between USN and colleges and universities domestically and internationally.  This position will also further the development of the systems necessary to successfully maintain a vibrant college counseling office, information flow and the implementation of MAIA Learning as examples.  

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, partnering with the Head of High School on short and long term projects, further developing the members of the college counseling team, counseling students and families beginning in the junior year, preparing recommendations for students, managing the flow of information from USN to potential colleges and associated programs, networking with peer institutions locally and nationally, and designing and facilitating parent and community education programs.  The Director can expect to support a number of students who anticipate continuing their arts careers (e.g. portfolio / auditions) or athletic careers (e.g. college recruiting familiarity) into their collegiate experience.  In conjunction with the Head of High School, the director will supervise two associates in the office as well as an administrative assistant who serves the office. 

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree, experience with high school college counseling or admissions on the collegiate level, and a candidate well-versed in equity and justice initiatives.  More, candidates should possess a strong knowledge and command of NACAC’s Statement of Principles and Good Practices.  Finally,  USN seeks those with a deep commitment to working with a diverse population of students and families with equally diverse interests and aims.  

University School of Nashville is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational day school with enrollment of 1,080 students kindergarten through twelfth grade.  In 1915, the George Peabody College for Teachers opened Peabody Demonstration School (PDS), USN’s predecessor, which earned acclaim for its curriculum and faculty. In 1974, Peabody College announced plans to close PDS, and a group of parents, alumni, students, and teachers reconstituted and re-chartered the school as University School of Nashville. 

USN’s midtown location next to Vanderbilt University and its Peabody College for Teachers reminds us every day of our 106-year-old roots in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. It’s a vibrant educational community for both students and teachers in the midst of a dynamic city.

A deep-rooted culture of achievement at USN means that students expect much of each other, and faculty benefit from that high standard. We seek educators who are enthusiastic about their own learning to complement their teaching, and we offer many opportunities for professional development. USN is committed to creating an institutional environment that mirrors the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville. USN encourages a diverse applicant pool and provides equal employment opportunities for employees and job applicants.