Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Director of College Counseling

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is an independent college preparatory school for girls in grades 5 through 12 in the Sacred Heart tradition. Located in Newton, MA, Newton Country Day has been empowering girls to develop courage and confidence since 1880. Committed to whole-person education, guided by the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. Our highly intentional program centers on faith, intellect, social awareness, community building, and personal growth. 

Position Summary

Newton Country Day seeks an experienced and visionary educator to lead the college office as the Director of College Counseling. The Director reports to the Head of Upper School and oversees an Associate Director. This is a 12-month position, with 20 days of vacation annually and school calendar holidays for faculty and students. The position is open for immediate hire. 

Position Requirements

• An exceptional background in the field with a minimum of ten years working in college counseling, preferably with prior experience in college admissions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A warm, relational demeanor and the ability to make students and families feel known and supported
• A deep understanding of the evolving landscape of college admissions
• A passion for empowering young women to pursue their academic and personal goals
• The ability to collaborate effectively with students, parents, faculty, and college admissions professionals
• A strong work ethic, a deep sense of responsibility, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with attention to detail
• A capacity to effectively use college admissions software, including Naviance, as well as the Google suite of productivity applications
• Master’s or advanced degree preferred

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Oversee all facets of college counseling, both individual and programmatic.
• Think innovatively to develop and expand programming to build relationships with colleagues, invite families into the process as partners, support students, and establish Newton Country Day as a noteworthy presence in the field.
• Partner with faculty and staff to appropriately integrate college counseling into the broader educational experience, including course planning and advising, ensuring it aligns with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.
• Coordinate the school’s efforts in counseling students and their families through the entire college selection, application, admission, and financial aid process by planning appropriate communication and meetings with families and students across the Upper School experience. 
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and changes in higher education, integrating innovative approaches to college counseling that reflect the evolving needs of students.

Department Leadership

• Supervise and support the Associate Director of College Counseling.
• Provide resources and support for teachers writing letters of recommendation. 
• Review teacher recommendations.
• Oversee administration of the PSAT.
• Annually update the School Profile.
• Collaborate with curriculum and pedagogy leaders as a member of the Academic Council.

Student-Centered College Counseling

• Guide students through the college application process, offering personalized counseling to help them identify and pursue academic and career goals.
• Cultivate a supportive environment that empowers students to explore and understand their strengths, passions, and aspirations.
• Foster a growth mindset, encouraging students to reflect on their learning journey and articulate their accomplishments in a way that showcases their mastery of skills and knowledge and their resilience in the face of challenges. 
• Support students and families toward cultivating a balanced, realistic approach to college admissions outcomes.
• Partner with advisors to promote balance and discernment in curricular choices during the annual course request process. 
• Provide guidance to help students identify the timing and type of standardized testing and test preparation that is the most appropriate for them.
• Support students in designing balanced lists of schools to apply to and devising strategies regarding application rounds. 
• Write comprehensive recommendation letters for 20-30 students highlighting each student’s strengths, contributions, achievements, and growth. 
• Advocate for each student through correspondence with college representatives. 
• Plan and execute college guidance class sessions with students in grades 11 and 12, utilizing these sessions to help students discern the types of schools that appeal to them, build interview and essay writing skills, and remain on track with timelines. 
• Provide feedback on essay and supplement drafts.
• Assist students and families with scholarship and financial aid applications.

Advocacy and Partnerships

• Maintain membership in professional associations and regularly participate in professional development and networking events.
• Coordinate college representative visits and meet with representatives who come to campus. 
• Conduct college visits to expand awareness of our school profile and broaden awareness of schools that could be a good match for our students.
• Coordinate college-related events on campus, including welcoming alumnae back to share their experiences.
• Provide timely parent communication through Newton Notes, the school’s monthly newsletter.
• Participate in the Academic Council and partner with academic leaders in designing, innovating, evaluating, and articulating the nuances of our program.
• Collaborate with the Athletics and Arts departments to support students with NCAA recruiting processes and applications to special programs in visual and performing arts.
• Provide additional assistance to first-generation students and students experiencing special circumstances. 
• Connect qualified students to appropriate equity-based programs such as the QuestBridge and Posse Scholars. 
• Maintain a database of merit scholarships at the college, local, and national levels. 

Data-Informed Decision Making

• Utilize data analytics to assess the effectiveness of the college counseling program.
• Monitor and report on student outcomes, ensuring that the college placement process aligns with the school mission. 
• Guide students and parents in the use of tools such as each school’s net price calculator to forecast affordability and anticipated debt burden. 

Other Responsibilities 

• The Director of College Counseling is expected to participate in the life of the school community, which may include serving as a moderator for a grade level or student activity, participating in weekly community time, attending occasional evening and weekend events, and other duties as assigned.

Newton Country Day School offers a comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary commensurate with experience. Newton Country Day School is an equal-opportunity employer.  MA law requires fingerprint-based and criminal offender record information (CORI) checks for all employees working in public and private schools. 

Send resume and cover letter to Ellen Levine: elevine@newtonSH.org

Position Requirements

• An exceptional background in the field with a minimum of ten years working in college counseling, preferably with prior experience in college admissions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A warm, relational demeanor and the ability to make students and families feel known and supported

• A deep understanding of the evolving landscape of college admissions
• A passion for empowering young women to pursue their academic and personal goals
• The ability to collaborate effectively with students, parents, faculty, and college admissions professionals
• A strong work ethic, a deep sense of responsibility, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with attention to detail
• A capacity to effectively use college admissions software, including Naviance, as well as the Google suite of productivity applications
• Master’s or advanced degree preferred

About Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Newton Country Day is an academically rigorous school for girls in Grades 5-12, located just outside of Boston. NCDS is a member of the International Network of Sacred Heart Schools, which are located in over 40 countries and in more than 20 locations in the United States.

Connections working at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart