Greenwich Country Day School is an independent, co-educational day school with a current enrollment of 1375 students in grades N-12, and a faculty and staff of 350. The original Old Church Road campus is home to grades N-8. The new High School, established in 2019, is located less than two miles away on the Stanwich Road campus. Founded in 1926, Greenwich Country Day School is a family school where creative teaching is encouraged and used to foster a love of learning, motivate children toward academic excellence, and develop the whole child. The school provides the opportunity for purposeful and personal learning in a joyful environment, with emphasis on the development of character, values, creativity, and sportsmanship along with strong academic skills. GCDS is committed to graduating ethical, confident leaders who possess a strong sense of purpose.
GCDS is fortunate to have built a large endowment that helps to fund competitive salaries and benefits, including housing support for academic faculty, a robust professional development program, and reimbursement for graduate school tuition. GCDS offers a substantial need-based financial aid program to support students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds.
Due to the expansion of the student success program, Greenwich Country Day School seeks an Elementary School Counselor to start August 2022. Successful candidates will possess content and pedagogical expertise, a dedication to collaboration, and a creative and flexible approach to work with teachers and families.
Diversity is a core value at GCDS and we seek candidates who demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. GCDS is pleased to offer transportation support and accommodations, as needed, along with an introduction to the local area, for those candidates who travel from outside of the region for on-campus employment interviews.
Candidates are invited to use their cover letter to comment on any or all of the following. Sharing of portfolios or other evidence of personal or student work is also welcome and encouraged.
A successful candidate is expected to demonstrate ability in the following areas:
- Communicate effectively with all stakeholders
- Establish relationships with outside student/family support resources in an effort to provide responsive services
- Ability to conference one-on-one with parents
- Work independently as well as collaboratively to solve problems
- Follow the referral process and collaborate with school administration and teacher to support the process
- Interpret data
- Knowledge of behavioral management plans
Responsibilities Include:
- Observe children during classroom and play activities and confer with teachers and parents to evaluate a child’s strengths, challenges, and specific learning needs.
- Assist parents in addressing school related problems
- Refer parents to outside agencies and specialists when necessary
- Respond to crises should the need arise
- Work with teachers and administrators on professional development, providing a mental health perspective to issues such as academic support
- Help educate students on understanding self and others
- Work with individual students or small groups on topics such as peer relationships, coping strategies, effective social skills and problem-solving strategies
- Provide as-needed lessons to classes in areas of socio-emotional development - using the Fly Five curriculum
- Conduct transition/orientation activities for new students or those moving away
- Consult with other professional staff, outside agencies, and organizations.
- Provide parent education sessions on SEL related topics
- Identify at-risk students and implement interventions to enhance success
- Assist with the development and delivery of a division-wide SEL curriculum - Fly Five
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Psychology with focus in school counseling
- For candidates who are Psychologists, current certification will be required for those who reach finalist stage of the hiring process
- A minimum of 3-years successful school experience with students in this age group, or demonstrated professional competency
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Commitment to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive school community
- Personal traits appropriate for nurturing the growth of children - must be energetic, creative, flexible, patient, and have an inexhaustible sense of humor
Interested candidates are invited to use the link provided to send a cover letter and resume to:
Susan Fahey Khanna, Director of Human Resources