Middle School Counselor

The Blake School seeks to hire a full-time Middle School counselor starting August 2024. This is a 1.0 FTE, one-year position with a possibility of applying for an ongoing position, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. This individual serves as a cornerstone for student support and works cooperatively with other individuals and organizations to promote the healthy development of children and families in our community.

Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking that makes our community strong and empowers students to engage productively with those who are different from them.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and until the position is filled. Blake will cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Provides short-term individual and small group counseling pertaining to behavioral, emotional, social and mental health issues
• Offers classroom developmental guidance and social/emotional learning lessons
• Consults with parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, administrators, medical professionals and community mental health personnel
• Maintains relationships with qualified therapists and/or community agencies and provides referrals to families as appropriate
• Serves as a liaison between the school and outside agencies or mental health personnel
• Acts as a resource for understanding child and early adolescent development
• Provides guidance and professional development opportunities to faculty and staff on topics such as behavior management, recognizing mental health or learning challenges in the classroom, building classroom community and growing resilience in children
• Provides robust parent/guardian education on a range of relevant topics
• Responds to crises, including separation and loss or acute mental health needs
• Plays a leadership role on the Middle School student support team by crafting meaningful interventions and serving as a point person for implementing support services
• Works collaboratively with Middle School learning specialists and PK-12 counseling department
• Maintains documentation and appropriate communication in accordance with professional standards pertaining to licensed school counselors
• Oversees any other matters pertaining to school community health
• Attends all appropriate school meetings and events

Minimum Qualifications:

• Previous school counseling experience and/or training
• Must be a licensed school counselor or hold an advanced degree/license in counseling psychology
• Demonstrate a strong professional commitment to pluralism and growing intercultural competence
• Must be able to develop high levels of trust and rapport with students, parents/guardians and colleagues with diverse lived experiences and identities
• Knowledgeable about the developmental stages of children and early adolescents as well as positive identity formation frameworks
• Familiarity with recognizing and supporting students who demonstrate signs of learning differences

The Blake School is a pre-kindergarten through grade 12, co-educational, nonsectarian, independent day school enrolling 1,331 bright, talented students from nearly 56 Twin Cities-area communities. Founded in 1900, The Blake School has the advantage of facilities and campuses designed for specific developmental ages. Blake's mission is to engage students with a dynamic, academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to pluralism and a common set of values. Students pursue an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities, preparing for college, lifelong learning and purposeful lives as community and global citizens. The school community is also guided by its Commitment to Pluralism and core values.

The Blake School believes that a diverse society enriches all individuals and communities. Diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and marital, parental or economic status forms the fabric of our society. As a result of these beliefs, The Blake School actively seeks students, families and employees who value and contribute to the fullness of a diverse community within the context of its mission. In doing so, we recognize our responsibility to help make each person's experience a success. EOE