Middle School and Upper School Counselor

About Charleston Collegiate School

Charleston Collegiate School is an independent day school that strives to recognize, nurture, and challenge each of its students. Organized as a Lower School (PK-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12), CCS prides itself on being an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian, prekindergarten through 12th grade, located just outside of Charleston’s metropolitan area. Charleston Collegiate School offers a thirty-acre campus of vast playing fields and wooded trails and is located only twenty minutes from Charleston’s historic district on one side and Kiawah Island on the other.

CCS has a challenging, supportive, learning community that coaches students to become lifelong learners. A CCS education uses the pillars of project-based learning, entrepreneurship, artistic expression, and leadership through outdoor education to teach a high-quality education to a diverse student body.

Job Description

Charleston Collegiate School seeks an innovative and passionate Middle and Upper School Counselor to support and guide students in developing emotional well-being, resilience, and interpersonal skills. This position requires a dedicated professional who values inclusivity, fosters a safe and supportive environment, and integrates the school’s mission and values into their work to engage students meaningfully.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide developmentally appropriate individual and group counseling to support students' academic, emotional, and social well-being.
• Foster a safe and inclusive school environment that promotes self-awareness, empathy, and positive interpersonal relationships among students.
• Incorporate the school’s outdoor campus and natural surroundings into activities that support mindfulness, stress reduction, and emotional growth.
• Collaborate with teachers, families, and administrators to identify and address students’ needs, providing strategies and interventions to support their overall well-being.
• Develop and deliver engaging wellness programs, workshops, and lessons focused on mental health, self-care, resilience, and relationship-building.
• Facilitate peer mediation, conflict resolution, and restorative practices to encourage positive communication and problem-solving.
• Support students in navigating academic pressures, personal challenges, and post-secondary planning, emphasizing goal-setting and balance.
• Collaborate closely with the Lower School Counselor to ensure continuity of care and support as students transition between school divisions.
• Cultivate a counseling environment that celebrates diversity, promotes equity, and ensures all students feel safe, valued, and heard.
• Maintain regular communication with families to provide updates, resources, and guidance on supporting students' emotional health at home.
• Actively participate in student-life activities, including advisory programs, leading clubs, or organizing events that build community and foster positive relationships.
• Stay current on best practices in counseling, adolescent development, and mental health through professional development opportunities and collaboration with colleagues.

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in School Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Certification or licensure in school counseling or a comparable area (preferred).
• Demonstrated experience working with middle and upper school students in a counseling or related role.
• Strong knowledge of adolescent development, mental health practices, and restorative approaches.
• Good working knowledge of Google Suite
• Efficient typing, email, database, spreadsheet, and internet skills 
• Ability to communicate effectively and get along with co-workers and management  
• Ability to maintain regular and timely attendance  
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, problem-solve, and manage multiple projects
• Ability to present a professional image as a representative of the School  
• Current in First-aid training or equivalent  

Salary and Benefits

Charleston Collegiate School is committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a competitive compensation plan, retirement benefits and full medical/dental coverage.
Individual salary is negotiable depending on years of experience and educational background.

Non-Discrimination: Charleston Collegiate School values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds.  All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.