Job Description

Green Acres School is seeking an experienced full-time counselor to work with students in Pre-K-8th grade. The school counselor provides counseling services to individuals and groups of students in a safe and welcoming environment. The counselor acts as a consultant to parents, teachers, and administrators. Duties and support services provided by the counselor include:  

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual counseling on an as needed basis and make recommendations for outside mental health and therapeutic support when necessary.
• Identify students in need, assess their level of need, refer to appropriate services, and follow up to monitor student’s response to interventions.
• Provide crisis assessment and management for students and collaborate with community mental health providers.
• Create lessons and teach developmentally and age appropriate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) classes.
• Understand child mandated reporting laws and report to child protective services concerns of child abuse and neglect.
• Consult and collaborate with parents, guardians, and outside treatment providers.
• Meet regularly with grade level teams and the Student Support Teams (SST) to address student concerns and implement a plan of action for students, parents, teachers, and outside professionals.
• Carry out the institutional goals for supporting student wellness, social-emotional learning, and mental health.
• Work with teachers, learning resource specialists, and administrators to address concerns regarding the academic, social and emotional welfare of students.

Required skills and qualities:  

• Master’s degree in school counseling, social work, psychology, or related field
• Experience providing counseling services to young students in a school setting.
• Possess a deep knowledge of child development and expertise in social-emotional learning strategies.
• Demonstrate the ability to implement evidence-based counseling practices and interventions that support students' emotional, social and academic growth.
• Be skilled in delivering engaging classroom lessons on social-emotional topics and character education.
• Show a commitment to collaboration with teachers, administrators, and families to promote student well-being.
• Exhibit flexibility, patience, empathy, and a nurturing demeanor.
• Demonstrate cultural competency and a commitment to equity and inclusion and racial justice
• Possess a desire for ongoing professional growth and development.

Desirable qualifications:  

• Relevant licensure or certification 
• Experience working  in a school environment, preferably Pk-8

About Green Acres School

Founded in 1934, Green Acres School is one of the country’s leading progressive schools. Serving approximately 200 students in grades PK-8, the school occupies a 15-acre campus in North Bethesda, Maryland. Our school focuses on the development of the whole child through an academically challenging program that emphasizes interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Green Acres School offers a collegial work environment, competitive salaries, and a strong benefits package. Multiple buildings serve Lower School (PK-4) and Middle School (5-8) students; we value the outdoors for ourselves and for our students. Strong understanding of child development is essential for Green Acres teachers. An advanced degree in addition to significant experience with best practices in progressive education is strongly preferred.

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