Position Overview
In alignment with the school’s mission and the National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS) Principles of Good Practice, the Director of Counseling and Student Well-Being supports
the intellectual, social, emotional, and ethical development of students through a
comprehensive, developmentally responsive counseling and wellness program.

The Director reports to the Head of School and serves as a core member of the Student
Support Leadership Team alongside the Dean of Students and Middle School Coordinator.
Together, this team provides leadership for the school’s advisory program, social-emotional
learning initiatives, and coordinated approach to student well-being across divisions.

In this role, the Director also serves as a confidential advisor and consultation partner to the
Head of School on matters related to student well-being, school climate, community health, and
emerging social-emotional trends.

As the school’s primary counseling professional, the Director designs and delivers a proactive
and preventative, community-based model that emphasizes group interventions, classroom
partnerships, faculty consultation, parent education, and community education, while providing
limited short-term individual counseling and crisis support as needed.
The Director of Counseling and Student Well-Being serves as a leader in advancing a school
culture that promotes wellness, belonging, resilience, and the healthy development of
adolescents.

Responsibilities

Counseling & Well-Being Program Leadership

• Design, implement, assess, and continuously refine a comprehensive counseling and
  student well-being program aligned with NAIS Principles of Good Practice and the
  school’s mission.
• Develop a counseling model that prioritizes group counseling, psychoeducational
  programming, classroom-based social-emotional learning, parent education, and faculty
  consultation.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data, observation, and community feedback to inform
  program development and resource allocation.
• Explore opportunities, where appropriate, to partner with local universities or counseling
  training programs in support of supervised practicum or internship placements that could
  enhance student support capacity while upholding professional, ethical, and supervisory
  standards.

Advisory & Social-Emotional Learning

• Partner with the Dean of Students and Middle School Coordinator to select, curate, and
  implement a developmentally appropriate advisory program across grades 7-12.
• Collaborate in the design and implementation of a developmentally appropriate
  social-emotional learning curriculum that reflects the school’s mission and values.
• Develop and curate advisory lessons, discussion protocols, and wellness programming
  addressing topics such as relationships, identity, belonging, decision-making, digital
  citizenship, stress management, and healthy risk-taking.
• Support and coach faculty advisors in facilitating meaningful advisory experiences.
• Monitor emerging trends affecting adolescents and adapt advisory and SEL
  programming to address evolving student needs.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of advisory and social-emotional learning initiatives through
  feedback, observation, and other indicators of student well-being.

Student Support & Counseling

• Facilitate small-group counseling and preventative interventions that support student
  growth, resilience, and healthy relationships.
• Provide short-term, goal-focused individual counseling for situational concerns while
  maintaining appropriate boundaries between school counseling and long-term clinical
  therapy.
• Conduct risk assessments and collaborate with school leadership in crisis response and
  safety planning.
• Maintain referral relationships with community-based providers and support families in
  accessing external mental health resources.
• Monitor student well-being trends and proactively address emerging needs.
• Advise student clubs focused on social-emotional well-being.

Collaboration, Consultation & Parent Education

• Partner with teachers, advisors, and administrators through consultation and shared
  problem-solving.
• Participate in student support teams and contribute a whole-child, equity-minded
  perspective.
• Collaborate with families as partners in student development while maintaining
  appropriate professional boundaries.
• Partner with school leaders and parent organizations to design and facilitate educational
  programs that strengthen families’ understanding of adolescent development.
• Support faculty and staff through guidance on student mental health, social-emotional
  learning, and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Serve as an active member of the Admissions and Retention Committees, contributing
  insights related to student support, enrollment transitions, and long-term student
  success.

Ethical Practice & Systems Management

• Uphold ethical standards consistent with professional counseling organizations and
  NAIS expectations.
• Maintain accurate documentation and confidentiality in accordance with state and
  federal regulations.
• Establish and maintain protocols for crisis response, mandated reporting, referrals, and
  re-entry after medical leaves.
• Apply resilience-based, developmentally appropriate, somatic-aware, and culturally
  responsive practices.
• Apply developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive practices.

Community Engagement & Professional Growth

• Contribute to a school culture that values wellness, inclusion, and belonging.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to adolescent development, group
  counseling, social-emotional learning, and school-based mental health.
• Participate in supervision, consultation, or professional learning communities as
  appropriate.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work,
  Psychology, or a related field required.
• Appropriate state licensure, certification, or eligibility preferred.
• Experience in school-based counseling, independent schools, and/or group counseling
  models preferred.
• Experience designing or implementing advisory, social-emotional learning, or wellness
  programs preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a school
  community.
• Strong communication, consultation, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated interest in program development, systems thinking, and partnering with
  colleagues to advance student well-being.

About Falmouth Academy

Falmouth Academy is an independent, college-preparatory day school serving approximately 200 students in grades 7 through 12. Since 1977, Falmouth Academy has been educating students from communities across Cape Cod and the Islands, the South Coast, Southeastern Massachusetts, and overseas. The school, noted for its sustainable campus, is located on 34 acres of fields and woods adjacent to the pristine Beebe Woods conservation area, a short walk from historic Falmouth village and a quick drive from Woods Hole and its world-renowned ocean research centers and ferry terminal serving Martha's Vineyard. Falmouth Academy boasts impressive facilities with state-of-the-art science labs, a 10,000 sq. ft. performing arts center, music classroom, meeting hall, art and ceramics studios, darkroom and digital photography lab, a library, gymnasium, and ample classroom and office space.

Connections working at Falmouth Academy