Middle School Counselor

At Oak Hall School, supporting the social-emotional well-being of our students is a vital part of carrying out our mission as a welcoming and supportive learning community. Our Middle School Counselor serves as a trusted resource for students, families, faculty, and staff in the areas of social, emotional, and mental health issues affecting Middle School students. In this role, we are seeking a Middle School Counselor who will provide direct and indirect support services, strategies, and learning opportunities that promote and enhance student success in academic outcomes and in navigating daily life challenges.

The anticipated start date for this position is July 1st, 2024.

Essential Functions:

• Actively support the mission of Oak Hall School in all aspects of student and faculty engagement
• Pro-actively address the social-emotional needs of Middle School students
• Adhere to the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors
• Be a visible, engaged member of the school community, actively developing and fostering relationships within the school’s constituency, with particular focus on relationships with students in Middle School
• Provide short-term counseling in grades 6-8 in individual, group, or classroom settings to promote academic, social, and emotional development
• Provide mental health crisis assessment and management, including referrals as appropriate, for middle school students, and to the greater school community, as needed
• Cultivate and maintain a network of third party specialists to refer families and students to for further servicing; partner with these specialists in developing appropriate plans for students
• Maintain accurate records of student counseling, referrals, parent interactions, and any contact with outside agencies in accordance with professional standards and state and federal law, as applicable
• To the degree possible and appropriate in a school setting, preserve and protect confidentiality of students and families dealing with mental health issues
• Participate in team meetings for students of concern; take a lead role in creating and implementing a plan of action to support the student
• In partnership with other members of the Middle School administrative team, develop and oversee the Middle School advisory program, assign advisory groups, organize the structure and content, oversee the team building component, and participate inplanning and coordinating grade level bonding trips
• Partner with the Director of Teaching and Learning and Middle School administrative team on the selection and implementation of developmentally appropriate character education curriculum for the Middle School
• Partner with other school counselors and the Director of the Learning Centerto develop and deliver preventative education through assemblies, small groups and classes, panel events, advisory, and peer education activities that promote and emphasize improved social-emotional well-being, educational performance, and/or conduct. These programs should address developmentally appropriate issues, such as (but not limited to) bullying, organizational skills, study skills, drugs and alcohol, diversity, social media, peer pressure, family dynamics, and academic pressures and challenges
• Take initiative in cultivating speakers whoaddress the social-emotional needs of students in Middle School,as well as promote strategies for academic success
• Develop and deliver faculty and staff training/professional development related to child and early adolescent mental health and wellness and mandatory abuse reporting
• Partner with other members of the administrative teamto organize, develop, and/or deliver training sessions for parents to give them information and strategies to help their children with relevant social-emotional issues
• Partner with administrative team in helping to support new students/families in the Middle School, with particular focus in supporting the social-emotional well-being of students and families who are new to our school community
• Partner with both the Lower School counselor, and the Upper School counselor, to help students navigate transitions between the divisions as they progress throughgrade levels
• Seek and participate in opportunities for professional growth and networking to be fully engaged in discovering, considering, pursuing, and implementing, as appropriate, best practices in this role
• Be a role model of integrity and professionalism
• Meet regular attendance requirements, including attending division and other school meetings, professional days, graduation, faculty meetings, duty coverage, and other required events
• Adhere to school policies as described in the Employee Handbook and other materials
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or similar degree required
• Licensure as LCSW or school counselor certification preferred
• Must have experience working with adolescents in a social-emotional support, mental health, or school counselor capacity
• Demonstrated ability to provide behaviors and skills consistent with the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies
• Must possess strong knowledge of student mental health issues and child and adolescent development
• Must possess excellent judgment with the ability to approach topical issues with a keen understanding of the varied interests of all stakeholders within an independent school community
• Strong organizational, administrative, facilitative, and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability, willingness, and judgment to communicate effectively and relate well to students, parents, faculty, staff, and other constituents in a school environment
• An extraordinary work ethic and the ability to accept and meet unexpected challenges with grace and a positive attitude
• A history of commitment to professional development and lifelong learning
• The ability to work positively and professionally with students, parents, and faculty
• A high degree of professionalism, collegiality, and personal conduct both in and outside of school
• Enthusiasm and commitment to the vision and mission of the school

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Works in a fast-paced environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and and diverse array of contacts
• Regularly uses close and distance vision
• Ability to visually and audibly locate students under their supervision
• May work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time
• Ability to actively circulate throughout the diverse campus environment
• Works primarily in a climate-controlled office environment
• Works intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold
• Ability to occasionally lift, push or pull up to 30 lbs

Oak Hall is proud to offer a comprehensive employee compensation package, including a competitive salary, health and wellness benefits, paid time off, and generous retirement plan options to benefits- eligible employees.

Oak Hall School is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment. It is Oak Hall’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities and administer terms and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, or other legally-protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This employer participates in E-verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the US. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use Everify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.