POSITION STATEMENT 

Middle School Psychologist/Counselor 

Start Date: August 24, 2026

OVERVIEW 

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Early Childhood-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a Middle School Psychologist/Counselor within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars – diversity, equity & belonging; global social impact; and wholeness & wellbeing –  serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and  expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.   

This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience. 

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Head of Middle School, the MS Psychologist/Counselor collaborates with the Student Support Team, All School Well-being Coordinator,  and the Middle School Leadership Team to support all students in grades 5-8. The Middle School Psychologist/Counselor supports the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of students while fostering the conditions that allow all learners to thrive in a rigorous middle school environment. The MS Psychologist/Counselor is part of a school-wide team of counselors representing each learning community. 

In partnership with the Middle School Leadership Team and Student Support Team (SST), the Psychologist/Counselor helps cultivate a dynamic, student-centered, and developmentally responsive learning environment, guided by compassion and integrity. The Psychologist/Counselor collaborates with teachers and families to support students’ emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and promote a healthy and inclusive school culture.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

This position reports to the Head of Middle School. 

• Serve as Middle School Psychologist/Counselor, working directly with students (grades 5-8) to monitor and support their social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, and other identified needs
• Provide observation and assessment, where necessary, in order to identify developmental, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral needs of middle school learners 
• Partner with families to support their child’s social-emotional needs and develop individualized support plans
• Partner with the Middle School Leadership Team on all social/emotional/mental health aspects of the student experience 
• Participate in the MS Student Support Team, listening and assisting in guiding conversations about student needs, how we support them, and considering how to best approach this work 
• Coordinate, develop, and implement student support plans in collaboration with: Middle School Leadership, Learning Specialists, the School Nurse, teachers, advisors, and parents/families as well as outside therapists, psychologists, tutors, etc. 
• Collaborate with the Middle School Leadership Team on creating and maintaining programs that support a healthy and balanced experience for all students, including but not limited to providing parent/family workshops and events 
• Mentor teachers to support students’ social, emotional, and behavior management skills 
• Create new and manage current initiatives and interventions that respond to student needs
• Develop and implement peer support programs 
• Work in partnership with advisors to ensure a consistently positive and engaging experience for all of our students 
• Partner with the All School Well-being Coordinator, Lower School and Upper School Student Support teams to ensure that upon entering and leaving the middle school, students’ support needs can be and are appropriately met and their progress is closely monitored throughout their middle school years at BFS
• Collaborate with the Middle School Admissions Committee to assess BFS Middle School applicants and ensure each newly-admitted student requiring resources is appropriately supported
• Participate in All-School Student Support Team, overseen by the All School Learning Support and Well-Being Coordinators
• As necessary, collaborate across the school to support inter-community events, traditions, and mission-aligned student experiences, especially in the case of identity works as it connects to  neurodivergence 
• Facilitate classes and advisory sessions focused on social-emotional learning and healthy development in early adolescence
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Middle School

Qualifications and Characteristics Sought: 

• Master’s degree required; Graduate degree in psychology, school counseling, or social work preferred 
• Commitment to the School’s mission, values, and vision
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in a Middle School setting
• Demonstrates strong communication skills (oral and written) 
• Comfortable working and communicating with families 
• Experience leading professional development activities for teachers
• Seeks to be an active community member 
• Approaches work with flexibility, patience, and a willingness to learn 
• Demonstrates cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging 
• Invested in continued professional growth 
• Takes initiative and demonstrates impeccable follow through 
• Compassion, integrity, and open-mindedness in all interactions
• Collegiality, approachability, flexibility, and adaptability
• Ability to partner and collaborate across professional statuses, i.e., with all colleagues (i.e., staff, leadership, families, student body, local and national independent school communities, and the neighborhood community)

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Must be able to work in a school environment including prolonged periods of sitting and standing.
• Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, bookshelves and navigate office and workstation spaces.
• Must be able to ambulate through hallways and classroom settings, including walking up stairs.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

Union Status: Union

Salary Range: $92,720 - $107,810

This salary range represents the expected annual salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.

• Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time and are subject to applicable plan documents

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Head of Middle School. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice, social impact, and wholeness. 
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you). References will not be contacted without candidate knowledge and consent.
4. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments as a single PDF to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and put MS Psychologist/Counselor in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed. 

About Brooklyn Friends School

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

Connections working at Brooklyn Friends School