Career Center

Department:              Wellness 
Date Modified:          April 21, 2022 

Reports To:                Assistant Head of School for Student Experience 

Status:                        Salaried, Exempt, 10 month 
Date Posted:              June 13, 2022 

Start Date:                 August 1, 2022 

About Saint Mary’s Hall 

Founded in 1879, Saint Mary’s Hall is an independent co-ed day school serving students and families of all faiths. Since its founding, Saint Mary’s Hall has called four campuses home. Though the faces and structures change over time, the heart of Saint Mary’s Hall endures from generation to generation. 

Situated on a picturesque, tree-covered 60-acre bluff above Salado Creek in Northeast San Antonio since 1968, the campus, located at 9401 Starcrest Drive, serves all students in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility. Saint Mary’s Hall is a special place built on strong community bonds, rich traditions, and a culture of belonging for all students. Graduates leave Saint Mary’s Hall confidently armed with the skills, knowledge, study habits, and self-awareness needed to thrive in college and find fulfillment in life. 

Position Description:  

The Health and Wellness Educator is a dynamic and multi-faceted position that focuses on best practices in health and wellness education and ultimately serves to cultivate a deep sense of student belonging for all Saint Mary’s Hall students.  

The Health and Wellness educator will teach age-appropriate health and wellness concepts to Saint Mary’s Hall students that emphasize personal and community education. All modules are taught with a strong emphasis on decision-making, building healthy relationships, coping, problem solving, developing interpersonal and communication skills, and advocating for one’s own health and well-being.  

Essential Functions: 

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.) 

• Design and plan Health and Wellness course curriculum for Forms 6-9.
• Teaches concepts, knowledge and skills in health and wellness education, utilizing curriculum designated by SMH across the divisions
• Works collaboratively with Division Heads, School Nurses, Division Counselors, Coordinator of Student Well-Being and Assistant Head of School for Student Experience to ensure course content meets student needs
• Coordinates the delivery of selected material by colleagues and guest speakers, as appropriate 
• Develops lesson plans and supplementary materials compatible with the school’s basic instructional philosophy and congruent with course standards 
• Provides small group classroom instruction but is able to adapt the curriculum to the needs of each student and subgroups of students
• Effectively utilizes teaching strategies, activities and student-centered lessons to engage students and foster open discussion and dialogue
• Establishes and maintains standards of student behavior to provide an orderly, productive learning environment  
• Evaluates academic and social growth of students, prepares reports, and keeps appropriate records to include attendance reports, and other recordkeeping activities as necessary
• Communicates with parents and school counselors on student progress or concerns as appropriate
• Speaks at assemblies, student meetings, faculty professional development sessions and parent meetings as necessary
• Models nondiscriminatory and unbiased practices in all activities
• Serves as an active member of the wellness team
• Consults with faculty regarding the enhancement of curriculum with a focus on health and wellness and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 
• Promotes a culturally affirming environment for historically marginalized groups including students of color, LGBTQ+, and gender expansive populations, as well as students of all abilities
• Ensures that consultative, and educational practices are sensitive to the needs and experiences of the SMH community, including socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin
• Assists students in learning and demonstrating appropriate school behavior and in developing self-understanding and social skills including but not limited to problem solving, coping skills, and social skills through health and wellness classes and related programming
• Performs additional duties and accepts other responsibilities as may be assigned

Qualifications: 

• Graduate degree (or higher) in relevant field, preferably law or counseling
• Minimum four years’ experience teaching health in a school setting
• Minimum of four years’ health and wellness-related work experience desirable

Requirements: 

• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to communicate in a clear, concise, understandable manner, and listen attentively to others in a group and one-on-one setting
• Ability to maintain a friendly, professional manner
• Ability to work with students across all age ranges and abilities
• Ability to work with adults from diverse backgrounds and with differing perspectives
• Knowledge of trends in health and wellness areas of interest: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health
• Knowledge of trends and experience regarding cultivating student inclusion and belonging
• Compliance with all Saint Mary’s Hall policies and regulations
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Good stewardship of student information

Dynamic New Leadership 

Len Miller joined Saint Mary’s Hall as the 25th Head of School in July of 2020. Len comes to San Antonio after a 25-year career in independent schools. He served previously at some of our nation’s top schools, including The Hill School, The Lawrenceville School, and The Shipley School. His tenure has been hallmarked by a deep commitment to the quality of the academic program, the student experience, and the long-term sustainability and growth of the institution. He has been at the forefront of developing innovative academic programs and recruiting and retaining dynamic teachers. Robust, intentional, student wellness programs are the result of his collaborative leadership.  

Len’s forward-thinking efforts in strategic planning, enrollment, advancement, and fiscal matters have underpinned the overall strength and quality of the schools he has served. As a leader, he strives to empower his leadership team to build programs, effect change, and make significant and meaningful impacts on the students, faculty, staff, and School culture. Len is committed to educating the whole student with a deep focus on connection and belonging among the student body. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Work in a classroom environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
• The ability to express, exchange or demonstrate spoken instructions to students, faculty, staff and parents accurately
• May work at a desk and computer for extended periods
• The ability to lift 30  lbs.
• The ability to walk across campus
• Occasionally bend, stoop, squat and reach
• Primarily works in a traditional climate controlled environment
• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold
   

Other Information 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. If you are interested in joining our dynamic professional and learning environment that encourages innovation, send us a cover letter, resume, and complete our SMH employment application. Please email your documents to jobs@smhall.org. You can download our employment application by visiting www.smhall.org/about/employment-opportunities. Applications will be processed as they are received. 

Sandra Lopez-Morales, Assistant Head of School for Student Experience 
Saint Mary’s Hall 
9401 Starcrest Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78217 
jobs@smhall.org