About Saint Andrew’s School
Saint Andrew's School is an independent, co-educational school for grades PK-12. Saint Andrew's is both a day school and a boarding school, educating students from across the United States and throughout the world. As a college preparatory school in the Episcopal tradition, Saint Andrew's welcomes students of all faiths, customs, cultures, and beliefs. "Honor Above All," academic excellence and education in Mind, Body, and Spirit reflect the Saint Andrew's experience. We are committed to educating the "whole child" while instilling in them a dedication to lifelong learning. 

Saint Andrew’s School seeks employees who are committed to our mission to provide educational excellence in an inclusive community, fostering lifelong learning and nurturing each individual in mind, body, and spirit in the Episcopal tradition. We encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds and experiences will help us promote an inclusive school culture. We are committed to respecting the dignity of each member of our community, and we strive to recruit a diverse and talented faculty and staff.

Position Summary
The Middle School Counselor provides social-emotional wellness guidance and consultation to students, their families, and the faculty in support of the students’ well-being, in support of the overall school mission, and in accordance with Saint Andrew’s policies. The counselor works together with the head of Middle School, director of wellness, dean of students, director of learning support, learning specialist(s), and the teaching faculty in both promoting and responding to the needs of individual students and the student body as a whole.
 

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide structured, goal-oriented individual counseling sessions to meet the needs of individual students and conduct small-group counseling sessions for students who share a common concern or issue. Concerns may include coping with symptoms of anxiety, depression, resolving interpersonal conflict, navigating peer relationships, life skills and strategies for managing academic demands and creating a balanced life.

• Facilitate peer mediation and conflict resolution proactively and responsively

• Develop and promote social-emotional-health-and-wellness curricula and programming for the Middle School advisory program and weekly divisional assemblies 

• Coordinate and mentor the Student Leadership Council in cooperation with the Middle School dean of students

• Collaborate with the director of wellness to create educational programming that supports a socially-and-emotionally-healthy culture and community  

• Provide short-term support for students experiencing mental health crises and manage mandated reporting to appropriate agencies 

• Partner with the dean of students to provide social-emotional support and context to students and parents during the management of behavioral incidents

• Serve as a member of the Middle School leadership team; attend grade-level-team meetings, team-leader meetings, and Student Support Committee meetings

• Work with faculty to support student behavior in the classroom that facilitates a positive learning environment and social climate

• Work collaboratively with Middle School administrative team and members of the learning support team by:  

  • Attending weekly meetings to discuss identified students of concern

  • Assisting in the review of psychoeducational and psychological evaluations

  • Supporting the development and effective implementation of learning support plans

• Liaise with professionals in the community who work with students and families to align best approaches to supporting individual students in the school setting

• Assist in the coordination of ERB CTP 5 standardized testing  

• Work with the director of wellness, nurse manager, and learning specialists to assist students with the medical leave of absence process and support their return to school

• Collaborate with divisional task force members of the Equity and Justice Committee to create and sustain an inclusive community in which all members feel a sense of belonging

• Provide parent education experiences and faculty in-service training focused on topics related to healthy social, emotional, and behavioral development in the middle school years.

• Coordinate the transition programming and orientations for students moving from grade 5 to grade 6

• Serve as a resource for parents in understanding pre-adolescent and adolescent development; provide referrals to professional resources in the community for assessment and/or interventions related to developmental, learning, emotional, and/or behavioral needs, as appropriate

• The candidate must be a licensed (or license eligible) counselor in the state of Florida

• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field is required

• Three years of Master’s or Doctoral level clinical experience is preferred

• Thorough understanding of developmental expectations for middle-school-aged students

• Thorough understanding of and ability to interpret psychological and psychoeducational assessment results

• Integrity and professionalism

• Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills 

• Capacity to calmly manage student behaviors  in unexpected situations

• Significant related experience and a passion for working with adolescent populations

• Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations regarding school counseling

• Ability and judgment to interact and communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues

• A warm and empathetic demeanor balanced with energy and enthusiasm

• Collegiality and a willingness to collaborate with colleagues

• Experience with diverse cultural populations

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Regularly able to stand, sit, walk, bend, and lift up to 15 pounds 

• Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled office environment

Saint Andrew’s School is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, gender, race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or familial status, pregnancy, disability or handicap, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status in accordance with the requirement of all federal, state, and local laws. 

Saint Andrew’s is a drug-free workplace. All employees must successfully maintain an acceptable Level II criminal background check.  Saint Andrew’s School may, in its discretion, modify or adjust the position to meet the school’s changing needs.

About Saint Andrew's School

An independent, co-educational school for grades PreK - 12, Saint Andrew's School seeks to educate students in mind, body and spirit. We welcome students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds to join our community.

Connections working at Saint Andrew's School