Sidwell Friends School, a co-educational Quaker day school, seeks a full time, 11-month School Counselor for our Middle School division in all subjects for (grades 5 – 8). Qualified applicants should have relevant college and graduate degrees, experience working with children, preferably adolescents. The ideal candidate should have previous experience in a school setting and comfort working with faculty, students, and parents.
Job Responsibilities:
Meets with students individually and in groups as needed
Organizes and facilitates special groups of students as needed
Is knowledgeable about, organizes, and facilitates appropriate counseling strategies for the age group.
Initiates referrals as needed in consultation with families
Communicates as needed with students’ outside therapists
Attends meetings of the Student Support Team
Creates an atmosphere of trust with the student body
Provides parent educational programs on the developmental stages of adolescents and supporting student wellness
Participates in decisions about re-enrollment, staffing, and placement with the faculty and administration as needed
Is trained to handle crisis situations as they arise in the School community
Helps plan and organize Advisory lessons and collaborates with Health and Wellness teachers as needed
Keeps an orderly office and maintains student records as required by law in the work of counseling Middle School students.
Serves as a 7-8 Advisor as needed
As an 11-month employee, works for two weeks preceding the weeks when all faculty return in August and two weeks after the final day of teaching for faculty in June, including participating in the Middle School transition program for new students in August
Participates in all other activities required of full time employees
Qualifications:
At least five years of experience in a counseling role
Relevant training, including graduate degree and/or license in counseling or social work
Experience working with Middle School aged children
Experience in a school setting
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Understanding of and adherence to appropriate confidentiality, including limits thereof in a school setting
Comfort working with both children and adults
Patience, flexibility, and adaptability to respond to the changing needs of students
Work Schedule:
Must be available during school hours, which are 7:45 am – 4:00pm.
Some night events will be required based on Middle School family programming, including four transition meetings, one per grade, in the beginning of the year and Back to School Night
Counseling positions at Sidwell Friends School are campus-based, and this position requires being on campus in person.
Salary
Salary $100,000-$130,000. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, “How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world.”
Sidwell Friends School (SFS) is a PK-12, co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in 1883, the School is a nonprofit, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent Board of Trustees.
A Sidwell Friends education aims to help students become the leaders of the future. To that end, the School seeks qualified individuals with the knowledge, skills, and ability to enhance the student experience and strengthen our community.
Sidwell Friends maintains a generous salary and benefits package that supports and rewards our employees while helping them to deepen their professional expertise and grow as individuals.
For teaching positions, a master’s degree and teaching experience in the field are preferred; a bachelor’s degree is required. For staff positions, we seek candidates with relevant experience, a commitment to excellence, and an enthusiasm for being a member of our vibrant and diverse community.