MYP Counselor (Grades 6-9)

Windermere Preparatory School (WPS) - 12 month position 

At Windermere Preparatory School, we nurture students' growth and exploration in a dynamic, international community. As an IB school, we emphasize holistic development through a student-first approach. We are seeking a Middle Years Program (MYP) School Counselor to support students in grades 6-9 by fostering academic, social-emotional, and personal growth while preparing them for the Diploma Program (DP) and beyond. (Rotation model; follow students for four years, partnering with another counselor in the MYP model.)

Key Responsibilities

Student Exploration and Development

• Guide students in identifying their strengths, interests, and goals using Approaches to Learning (ATLs) as a framework for self-awareness and skill development.
• Provide academic advising to help students set achievable goals, monitor progress, and build a strong foundation for success in the DP and other WPS pathways.
• Tailoring counseling interventions to match the unique challenges of middle school students, including puberty, identity development, and social pressures.
• Collaborate with students to create personalized plans for exploring future pathways, including early college awareness.
• Collaborate with the other counselor to deliver lessons, ensuring essential skills and topics such as time management, self-reflection, and personal goal-setting are integrated into classroom instruction.

Accommodations Management

• Create, execute, and maintain accommodation plans in collaboration with teachers, ensuring that strategies are consistently applied in the classroom to support student needs.
• Act as a liaison with families to communicate accommodation strategies and updates effectively.
• Stay informed about the needs and strategies for neurodiverse learners by engaging in ongoing professional development and research, collaborating with teachers to implement individualized accommodations and evidence-based strategies that support neurodiverse students in the classroom, such as differentiated instruction, sensory breaks, social-emotional learning programs, and clear communication techniques.
•       Manage applications for testing accommodations with classroom teachers and external organizations, including IB, College Board, and ACT, to ensure students receive the necessary support during assessments.

Social-Emotional Support

• Recognize and address social-emotional needs, providing support through group or individual counseling.
• Identifying and addressing potential problems early to prevent escalation.
• Establishing trust and rapport with students to effectively address their concerns
• Use CORE sessions to deliver targeted lessons on emotional resilience, peer relationships, and healthy decision-making.
• Addressing peer relationship issues like bullying and conflict resolution
• Supporting students experiencing anxiety, depression, or family challenges
• Promoting positive self-esteem and social skills development
• Act as a liaison between school, home, and teachers to ensure students' holistic needs are met.

Program Development and Implementation:

• Designing and delivering comprehensive school counseling curriculum aligned with student needs
• Conducting needs assessments to identify areas of focus
• Implementing preventative programs on topics like substance abuse and cyberbullying
• Facilitating group counseling sessions on relevant topics

Collaboration and Guidance

•       Partner with teachers to integrate ATLs into daily classroom activities, ensuring alignment between academic and personal development goals.
•       Communicate with parents to support student growth and foster an understanding of the MYP framework.
•       Assist with student scheduling, accommodations, and transitions to the DP.

Professional Development and Community Engagement

•       Participate in ongoing IB-specific training and professional development to stay current with MYP and ASCA counseling best practices.
•       Organize workshops and parent education sessions focused on adolescent development, learning strategies, and pre-college exploration.

Education

•       Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Guidance, or Education (required).
•       Master’s Degree (required).

Experience & Skills

•       Minimum of 3 years experience in Middle or High School counseling.
•       Exceptional writing, interpersonal, and organizational abilities.
•       Strong time management skills with flexibility to handle multi-functional tasks; self-motivated and driven.
•       Proven experience working effectively with students and parents in a diverse community.
•       Proficiency with educational software and technology including knowledge of Google Suite.
•   Familiarity with student assessment tools, with the ability to evaluate and interpret standardized test results.

About Windermere Preparatory School

Windermere Preparatory School is located on a beautiful 48-acre campus in Southwest Orange County. Windermere Preparatory School's academic approach is built on complex problem solving and critical thinking, emphasizes intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth, and culminates with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. Educating The Whole Child While academic achievement is Windermere Preparatory School's highest priority, it is complemented and enriched by a multitude of resources and extracurricular activities, such as fine and performing arts, athletics, clubs and community service. Through personalized learning and innovative curriculum, committed teachers provide instruction that develops and educates the whole child, both inside and outside the classroom.

Connections working at Windermere Preparatory School