School Counselor

Chinquapin Preparatory School is seeking a part-time School Counselor for grades 6-12 starting July 2024. This position may be a stand alone part-time position or it may be converted into a full-time position, with both counseling and teaching responsibilities. A typical full-time position involves counseling for half the day and teaching 2 classes, advising a small group of students, leading a daily chores group, taking on campus supervision duties, as well as opportunities for sponsoring a student organization or coaching a sport. Chinquapin Preparatory School is a Monday-Friday boarding school and thus many faculty and staff members live on campus and participate in other duties as assigned. Work is performed under the supervision of the Head of School.

**Required Qualifications and Skills for the Counseling Role**:
A Master?s degree in Counseling, School Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
Demonstrated ability to connect with students and use a variety of counseling techniques specific to school counseling including Solution-focused Brief Therapy (meetings will last 5 to 20 minutes, no longer).
Must pass a background check

Preferred Qualifications and Experience for the Counseling Role:
School Counselor License and/or LPC, or LPCC or LCSW
Experience working with all grade levels 6-12
Experience with running Social/Emotional small groups or SEL curriculum in a classroom setting
Experience with how to do a suicide assessment in a school setting and follow through with parent communication, crisis resources, and re-entry meetings
Experience working as a school counselor or mental health professional in a school setting (as school counseling is quite different than clinical counseling in an outside setting)
Team player attitude and approach while maintaining a level of calm

**The school counselor will**:
Serve as the only mental health professional on the campus for grades 6-12
Perform ?weekly check-ins? with a caseload of students throughout the week
Meet with students who come up as students of concern at the request of the Dean of Students or Head of School
Mediate conflicts that arise between students
Attend regular meetings for staff members as well as other meetings as needed in the role of school counselor
Provide mental health resources to the school community
Track student meetings and keep brief notes while maintaining appropriate confidentiality depending on the situation
Be ready to transition to asynchronous or remote learning at any time if there is a mandatory response on campus
Provide classroom support and perspective on learning differences and accommodations for students
Work directly with approximately 120-130 middle and high school students (grades 6-12 to provide effective coping strategies for a broad range of emotional, social, and achievement related concerns, and mental health interventions
Promote the work of the Dean and Class Anchors by creating and contributing to programming for students, faculty, and parents/guardians
Respond to any mental health crisis needs; be available at times during off-school hours for emergencies as determined by the Head of School
Work with the Dean of Students and Director of Curriculum and Instruction to develop and implement mental health and mindfulness related curricula, community programs, and faculty training
Foster communication and a respectful partnership with parents/guardians in conferences, during phone calls, and through written correspondence.
Work with individual or small groups of students needing assistance in improving social and coping skills
Engage in continuing professional growth and development, including staying abreast of mental health counseling and developmental best practices for early adolescents
Participate in the life of the School through attending meetings and being a regular presence at major events such as concerts, performances, athletic contests, and other events
Additional responsibilities may include but are not limited to implementing and teaching wellness programming, advising student groups, and collaborating with other departments to increase wellness education throughout the school community
Create an atmosphere of compassion, confidentiality, and collaboration with all members of the school community
Complete required documentation and ensure consistent record keeping
Create an environment that ensures equitable and respectful care and support for students with diverse beliefs, practices, and backgrounds
Serve as a role model in maintaining appropriate standards of care for students.
Maintain healthy boundaries in student and professional relationships
Hours are generally consistent with the school day and residence life, with additional presence as needed before and after school for meetings with students, families, and colleagues, and to attend school programming

**Preferred Qualifications and Experience for the Teaching Role**:
Teaching certification in the field of study
Strong communicati