Middle School Counselor (Sep. - Dec. Leave Replacement)

General Summary:

Under the general direction of the Head of Middle School, the Middle School Psychologist/Counselor works with students, teachers, and parents from grades 5-8 in helping to address the psychological and developmental needs that arise for students during these years. This role requires a regular presence in the Middle School with the ability to work with multiple administrators and cross-divisionally. The Psychologist/Counselor works individually with students to provide short-term treatment and brief evaluations. This position also conducts ongoing student support groups. Direct parent consultation and support regarding childhood development and parenting strategies is also provided to problem-solve the needs of individual students and their families, and referrals to outside providers are made when needed or requested.

Essential Duties:

• Meet with students one-on-one or in small groups to provide social-emotional support based on identified needs or referrals from faculty and staff
• Monitor, assess, and communicate observations regarding student behavior, focus, and social-emotional development.
• Serve as a liaison between home and school through regular communication and family meetings.
• Collaborate with external therapists and service providers supporting individual students.
• Provide immediate support and intervention during student crises.
• Teach weekly Wellness classes to 5th-grade students, with a focus on emotion recognition, collaboration, and navigating peer relationships.
• Develop and share weekly advisory lesson plans and support advisors in implementing lessons and fostering student engagement.
• Facilitate two weekly social groups: Lunch Bunch (rotating small-group lunch sessions for students in grades 5-8) and Family Dynamics (targeted support groups focused on family-related topics, divided into 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade cohorts).
• Partner with teachers, grade-level deans, and student support staff to address student challenges.
• Participate in regular meetings, including grade-level teams, dean teams, student support teams, and psychological services teams.
• Maintain and update the Middle School Shoutout Wall to celebrate positive contributions and foster community spirit, including collecting weekly shoutouts from students and staff.
• Supervise lunch and recess, promoting student safety, inclusion, and healthy peer interactions.
• Attend grade-level day-away trips as a chaperone.
• Participate in parent-advisor conferences as needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree from an accredited university or college in counseling, psychology or social work and relevant licensure required. Doctoral degree preferred.
• Three to five years of experience working in a school or child/adolescent-based setting required, specific counseling experience working with middle-school aged children in an independent school setting preferred.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to complete a background check and drug screen.
• Must possess a NYS license as a psychologist or LCSW.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability and willingness to participate fully in a dynamic day school located in New York City;
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to interface with all constituencies of the school community - the Head of the School, the administration, staff, faculty and students;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and emotional competency to build and maintain strong relationships with students, families and colleagues;
• Superior analytical skills to support ongoing curriculum planning, development, and refinement;
• Meticulous organizational abilities (setting priorities, then organizing what needs to happen when to meet deadlines);
• Optimism, maturity, and personal resiliency;
• Must possess the ability to practically apply assessment, counseling, and crisis intervention skills.