Career Center

Chatham Hall is excited to begin a search for a Director of Counseling Services to begin August 2022. Chatham Hall—a girls’ grades 9-12 boarding and day school in southern Virginia—has been a leader in educating girls and preparing them for college since 1894. The School counselor provides support for students through counseling and facilitating referrals for students to local clinicians when needed. This person will collaborate with the Student Life Office to provide wellness programming for students in grades 9-12.

This is a 10-month, full-time position (beginning August 2022) with an expectation of limited availability in the summer. Outstanding candidates enjoy working with teenagers and adults in fostering wellness in every dimension of their lives.

Chatham Hall is in a very exciting position of carrying out the final pieces of its most recent strategic plan. At the core of that plan is the health and wellness initiative which strives to create balance in the lives of both students and adults. Aspects of "Living Well at Chatham Hall" include:

• Moving away from AP classes in favor of our own advanced classes
• Implementing a January Term 
• Creating a new daily schedule that should allow students and teachers time to take the deep dives as well as time for reflection to process learning

Beyond these dynamic initiatives, we have also looked closely at diversity, equity, and inclusion, wanting to ensure that we are providing role models for all our students in this diverse and warm community as well as a curriculum that reflects the world in which we live. To that end, we have engaged consultant Trina Gary, principal consultant at Brown-Gary Associates, LLC, who carried out our climate assessment in 2019-2020 and led several professional development workshops on the topics of implicit bias and other pertinent subjects. Additionally, we have engaged Ayo Magwood, principal of Uprooting Inequity to educate adults on the history of race and racism. Chatham Hall is committed to ensuring that students and adults feel included in this diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and support mental health and wellness programs in collaboration with the Student Life Office.
• Provide direct services to students through programs, preventative activities, and individual and group counseling that include a variety of approaches from therapeutic to holistic wellness techniques.
• Provide emergency and sustained counseling support to students as needed.
• Proactively identify and address behavior problems that may be interfering with student well-being.
• Participate in the community as an engaged and involved presence, and perform weekend and night responsibilities to support the life of the residential community as assigned.
• Work with colleagues to establish, maintain, and communicate mental health and boundary protocols.
• Conduct faculty, staff, and student training on mental health, wellness, and abuse prevention.
• Proactively communicate with parents regarding student well-being and counseling needs.
• Expand and maintain a network of mental health professionals and refer students and their families to appropriate outside professionals for medical or social services, when necessary.
• Maintain student records, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work
• Appropriate licensure/certification as a counselor or therapist
• Enthusiasm and commitment to caring for adolescents
• Experience working with families from diverse backgrounds in a school counseling setting
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with members of the School community
• Strong work ethic, generous spirit, and excellent speaking and writing skills
• Applicants with residential boarding school experience and/or independent school experience will be given special consideration.

Chatham Hall seeks candidates who will contribute to and are committed to diversity and multicultural educational practices. Chatham Hall seeks candidates who demonstrate a dedication to working in a diverse community. The school seeks candidates who: communicate effectively with diverse populations, create an inclusive work environment, and will engage in professional development opportunities to further develop inclusive practices.

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and list of references to Dean of Students Marin Miller at mmiller@chathamhall.org.