Narragansett, Rhode Island
McLean, Virginia
Cincinnati, Ohio
New York, New York
Posted: 10-Jun-26
Location: NEWTON, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
Salary: 75000-85000
Categories:
Preferred Education:
Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
Position: Middle School - School Counselor
Location: Newton Country Day School, 785 Centre St. Newton, MA
Schedule: Academic year, Full-time, 10 months
Salary: $75,000-85,000
Position Summary
The Middle School - School Counselor will support students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. This role requires a proactive approach to counseling, social-emotional learning (SEL), and collaboration with students, faculty, and families. As a member of the Student Support Services Program, the Middle School Counselor will contribute to a positive school culture by providing direct counseling services, leading social-emotional learning initiatives, partnering with families and faculty, offering professional development, and helping shape policies that support student well-being. The Middle School Counselor plays a crucial role in nurturing students' overall well-being and development, allowing them to thrive academically and personally.
Position Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of Student Support and the Director of Middle School, the Middle School Counselor is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing social-emotional initiatives that promote student success in Grades 5 through 8. The counselor serves as a leader in developing and delivering social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and other wellness initiatives that support students' academic, social, and emotional growth. The School Counselor works closely with faculty, students, and families to ensure that all learners receive the resources and support they need to thrive academically and emotionally.
Student Support & Counseling
- Provide short-term, strengths-based, solution-focused counseling to students navigating academic and social-emotional challenges.
- Facilitate student peer support and lunch groups as needed to address specific student needs.
- Serve as the lead facilitator and coordinator of Middle School social-emotional learning (SEL) programming, designing and teaching classroom lessons, collaborating with faculty, and ensuring a cohesive and developmentally responsive SEL experience across Grades 5–8.
- Mediate conflicts among students and help them develop conflict-resolution skills.
- Assist teachers with SEL resources to enhance classroom engagement and relationship-building.
- Maintain timely and open communication with parents/caregivers, participate in meetings as needed, and lead parent education workshops.
- Serve as a liaison between students, families, and external health professionals to coordinate care and provide appropriate referrals when necessary.
- Observe and assess classroom practices to offer insights for improving the teaching of social competencies.
- Provide culturally responsive consultation and support for students and families.
- Interpret neuropsychological evaluations and collaborate with teachers and families to develop Student Success Plans tailored to individual student needs.
- Crisis Intervention: Respond to and manage crises, providing immediate support and referral to appropriate services when necessary.
- Maintain accurate and secure record-keeping by:
- Documenting parent communication and student counseling sessions in the Student Medical Information Database (MAGNUS).
- Uploading neuropsychological evaluations to MAGNUS for secure storage.
Administrative & School-Wide Initiatives
- Design and deliver professional development for faculty on developmental, social-emotional, and academic issues.
- Collaborate with the leadership team to create, revise, and implement school policies that promote student well-being.
- Represent the school at events outside of school hours, including curriculum nights, new parent events, and admissions events.
- Attend grade-level team meetings to collaboratively problem-solve around student and teacher needs.
School Community Engagement & Expanded Role
- TAG Planning Team: Participate in the school’s TAG (Targeted Advisory Group) team, focusing on SEL initiatives.
- Wellness & Student Clubs and/or Lunch Groups: Co-lead or lead a student club focused on wellness, SEL, or kindness initiatives
- Deliver targeted SEL lessons in Wellness Classes, focusing on specific topics aligned with student needs and areas of expertise.
- SEL Assemblies: Organize and lead monthly SEL-themed assemblies to reinforce key social-emotional concepts in a school-wide setting.
- Student Presence & Relationship Building: Build strong, visible relationships with students through regular presence in classrooms, advisory groups, common spaces, school events, and other aspects of daily Middle School life. Foster a culture of connection, belonging, and support by serving as a trusted and accessible resource for students..
- Middle School Guest Speaker Series and Parent Outreach: Research and coordinate guest speakers to bring in experts on relevant topics to enhance students’ SEL education.
Position Requirements
- Master's, including courses and/or concentrations in school counseling or school psychology, preferred
- Proven experience as a classroom teacher, special education learning specialist, or related role.
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to multitask and manage diverse responsibilities in a dynamic school environment.
- Understanding of and respect for the mission of Sacred Heart education.
- Willingness to participate actively in the life of the wider school community by serving as a moderator for a grade level, and a moderator for a co-curricular student activity; participating in weekly community time (announcements, chapel, class meeting); attending occasional evening/weekend events; and other duties as assigned
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
This role requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. It also demands mobility, including standing, sitting, walking, and using extremities for tasks such as reaching, holding, touching, pushing, and lifting. The job typically involves 25% sitting, 25% walking, and 50% standing, performed in a generally hazard-free environment with minimal temperature variations. Depending on the classroom assignment, the role may require relocating between classrooms throughout the day, including ascending and descending stairs. Occasionally, extended hours are necessary, including after school, evenings, and weekends. Newton Country Day's campus consists of multiple buildings, playing fields, and outdoor learning spaces, connected by external walkways and stairs. This position requires moving between these areas in all weather conditions.
Newton Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer. MA law requires fingerprint-based and criminal offender record information (CORI) checks for all employees working in public and private schools.
Send resume and cover letter to Ellen Levine: elevine@newtonSH.org
Position Requirements
- Master's, including courses and/or concentrations in school counseling or school psychology, preferred
- Proven experience as a classroom teacher, special education learning specialist, or related role.
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to multitask and manage diverse responsibilities in a dynamic school environment.
- Understanding of and respect for the mission of Sacred Heart education.
- Willingness to participate actively in the life of the wider school community by serving as a moderator for a grade level, and a moderator for a co-curricular student activity; participating in weekly community time (announcements, chapel, class meeting); attending occasional evening/weekend events; and other duties as assigned
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
This role requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. It also demands mobility, including standing, sitting, walking, and using extremities for tasks such as reaching, holding, touching, pushing, and lifting. The job typically involves 25% sitting, 25% walking, and 50% standing, performed in a generally hazard-free environment with minimal temperature variations. Depending on the classroom assignment, the role may require relocating between classrooms throughout the day, including ascending and descending stairs. Occasionally, extended hours are necessary, including after school, evenings, and weekends. Newton Country Day's campus consists of multiple buildings, playing fields, and outdoor learning spaces, connected by external walkways and stairs. This position requires moving between these areas in all weather conditions.
Newton Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer. MA law requires fingerprint-based and criminal offender record information (CORI) checks for all employees working in public and private schools.
