What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lower School Counselor position at blakeschool?
Job Description:
The Blake School seeks a Lower School counselor to serve as a student advocate who works cooperatively with other individuals and organizations to promote the healthy development of children and families in our community.
This position is beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity and lived experience that makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences. Blake provides substantial resources for professional learning in areas including adolescent development, learning differences and intercultural competence. Blake will cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.
The committee will begin reviewing applications in early December.
Essential Functions of the Job:
- Provides short-term individual and small-group counseling pertaining to behavioral, emotional, social and mental health issues
- Offers classroom developmental guidance and social/emotional learning lessons
- Consults with parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, administrators, medical professionals and community mental health personnel
- Maintains relationships with qualified therapists and/or community agencies and provides referrals to families as appropriate
- Serves as a liaison between the school and outside agencies or mental health personnel
- Acts as a resource for understanding child and early adolescent development
- Provides guidance and professional development opportunities to faculty and staff on topics such as behavior management, recognizing mental health or learning challenges in the classroom, building classroom community and growing resilience in children
- Provides robust parent/guardian education on a range of relevant topics
- Responds to crises, including separation and loss or acute mental health needs
- Plays a leadership role on the Lower School student support team by crafting meaningful interventions and serving as a point person for implementing support services
- Works collaboratively with Lower School learning specialists and PK-12 counseling department
- Maintains documentation and appropriate communication in accordance with professional standards pertaining to licensed school counselors
- Consults with the administration and PK-12 school nurse on other matters of school community health
- Attends all appropriate school meetings and events
