University School of the Lowcountry is seeking an experienced, positive, and engaging trained mental health professional to serve as the School Counselor for grades 3-12 (approximately 80-85 students).

Founded in 2007 and located in Mount Pleasant and serving the metro Charleston area, University School of the Lowcountry (www.uslowcountry.org) (USL) is a co-educational, non-sectarian, non-profit independent school with tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status geared to high-achieving students. USL’s curriculum is designed to engage our students at an advanced level. Offering grades 3-12, University School seeks to develop self-confident, passionate, and empathetic learners who will make a positive difference in the world.

This is a part-time position (approximately 50%, 15-20 hours/week, preferred 4-5 days per week – there is flexibility overall).

Title:  PT School Counselor (80-85 students)

Reports to:  Head of School

Objective: To advocate for students in creating a positive, healthy student experience with a focus on mental health wellness and social-emotional development.       

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess the needs, strengths, and opportunities for growth of students through a variety of means including one-on-one assessments, conversations, or interviews; small group activities; whole class lessons and observations.
• Counsel students with personal, social-emotional, disciplinary, and behavioral issues.
• Provide support to students and families requiring ongoing support, including advocacy and communication among students, families, teachers, and administrators to support each student’s unique needs.
• Build relationships with students across the school that result in trust and comfort creating an avenue for students to report concerns.
• Oversee, direct, implement, and evaluate periodic social emotional learning initiatives
• Collaborate with colleagues across the school.
• Attend and contribute in faculty meetings.
• Stay current on trends in independent schools and counseling by taking an active role in professional activities and attending relevant professional meetings and conferences.
• Oversee school testing program (with support of another faculty member experienced in testing).
• Create and share a quarterly newsletter to the community on counselor topics.
• Develop regular programming for the parent community of critical wellness topics for education and guidance. This can be done with outside experts that USL is already connected to.
• Oversee the job shadow program for students – in partnership with division directors.

Counseling:

- Provides short-term counseling and 1:1 support for students as needed, both on a drop-in basis and by the recommendation of teachers, advisors and/or administrators

- Makes referrals to outside professionals for students needing long-term therapy and/or psychological testing, neuropsychological reports, executive functioning support, etc.

- Manages student crisis situations and facilitates crisis response work with students, faculty and families

- Collaborates with the school’s Division Leaders regarding students of concern and ensures that appropriate support is provided

- Provides parent coaching to inform student success

- Regularly consults with Head of School to ensure inclusive and equitable counseling practice

Educational support and programming:

- Promotes student well-being by overseeing a comprehensive 3-12 health and wellness curriculum (using outside resources as appropriate)

- Serves as a resource and provides professional development for faculty and staff regarding student support and how to integrate the social, emotional, and academic needs of students into instructional design

- Monitors social and emotional learning and wellbeing across the school and works with the Head of School to address and strengthen these areas at USL

- Develops periodic parent education opportunities in relation to student/family social and emotional wellbeing (using outside resources as appropriate)

- Oversees (and teaches or co-teaches when appropriate) relevant student programs, such as Health and Wellness, Job Shadowing, and workshops/focus groups related to student issues

Other:

- Serves on school’s crisis team, advising school during emergency and crisis situations regarding social and emotional wellbeing of students and adults

About University School of the Lowcountry

Mission

University School of the Lowcountry is an independent school serving approximately 80 students in grades 3-12 that engages students in a variety of empirically proven and forward-thinking educational and service opportunities both in and outside of the classroom and challenges students in age-appropriate ways to excel academically while growing in emotional intelligence in a culture that teaches and practices the importance of citizenship.

Vision

Our vision is to develop outstanding students who are well-prepared to be scholars, leaders, and global citizens of the future.

Core Values

We develop discerning smart students by learning first-hand from experts about a range of topics outside the

classroom.

We foster leadership by providing opportunities to lead.

We create a caring and inclusive environment by embracing diverse perspectives and individuals.

We nurture compassionate and responsible students by serving our neighbors and community organizations.

We encourage wellness through multi-faceted principles that promote student development and resiliency.

Faculty

University School attracts the best teachers, hiring those who succeed because of their drive, optimism, insight, curiosity, and ability. Their enthusiasm is contagious. Actively fostering a culture of learning is what makes a great school. Our exceptional teachers and their high expectations foster an environment where our students succeed.  Our dedicated faculty have the highest expectations for each other and each student in all areas of their development: intellectually, physically, emotionally, ethically, and socially.

University School features a supportive and warm environment for teachers.  Faculty are treated like professionals and are respected and shown proper gratitude by students and families.  Teachers have wide latitude to teach and select curriculum materials to engage their students, and guidance comes from the Head of School (who is also a teacher), fellow department members and teachers, and best practices from national associations for the various disciplines.  The Faculty hold themselves to high standards for inspiring and challenging their students within an environment of mutual care and concern. 

University School is a community where relationships are pivotal to learning. As such, the personal qualities of this candidate are vital. These include being a supportive, engaged, and flexible role model who demonstrates both a sense of humor and an infectious enthusiasm for working with students. The candidate should also be comfortable guiding students in developing positive relationships with others who are older and younger.  He or she must also be able to work effectively with others in a spirit of collegiality and understand that teaching is a moral act. 

We are devoted to our teachers’ professional and personal development. University School teachers are certified in American Red Cross CPR/AED and have completed Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children sexual abuse prevention program. 

The South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) has recognized our faculty and staff: Head of School of the Year (2013), Middle School Teacher of the Year (2018), Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2020), and High School Teacher of the Year (2023, 2021), Middle School Math Teacher of the Year (2023).

Interested in Applying / Learning More?

University School offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with skills and experiences.

Please contact directly by email only to the Head of School, Jason Kreutner (jkreutner@uslowcountry.org).

For more information, or to apply now, please go to the website below.

https://uslowcountry.org/about/employment/

University School of the Lowcountry is committed to its growth as an institution that welcomes and values a diversified school community. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, economic background, or any other classification protected by law in the administration of its educational policies, financial assistance policies, or any other school policy or program.

- Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, psychology, human services, or social work required. Licensure/certification preferred.

- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills as well as a proven ability to work with a diversity of colleagues and stakeholders at all levels

- Outstanding judgment and maturity

- Energetic, creative, flexible

- Proven success at working collaboratively in educational leadership and/or student support

- Demonstrate appropriate ethical behavior and professional conduct in the fulfillment of roles and responsibilities

- Successful candidates will have experience working in this capacity and/or in related fields and knowledge of current research and best practices in the field. 

About University School of the Lowcountry

Mission University School of the Lowcountry is an independent school serving grades 3-12 that engages students in a variety of empirically proven and forward-thinking educational and service opportunities both in and outside of the classroom and challenges students in age-appropriate ways to excel academically while growing in emotional intelligence in a culture that teaches and practices the importance of citizenship. Vision Our vision is to develop outstanding students who are well-prepared to be scholars, leaders, and global citizens of the future. Core Values We develop discerning smart students by learning first-hand from experts about a range of topics outside the classroom. We foster leadership by providing opportunities to lead. We create a caring and inclusive environment by embracing diverse perspectives and individuals. We nurture compassionate and responsible students by serving our neighbors and community organizations. We encourage wellness through multi-faceted principles that promote student development and resiliency.

Connections working at University School of the Lowcountry