Grades 9-12 Counselor

Mcleanschool; Potomac (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

McLean School in Potomac, MD, invites applications for a Grades 9-12 School Counselor. The 10-month role focuses on social-emotional well-being, executive function support, and crisis intervention within a collaborative team.

Responsibilities include school-wide programming, individual counseling, and consultation with families to reinforce strategies across home and school. Maryland license or eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
• Maryland licensure or eligibility for licensure as Counselor, Social Worker, or LCSW.
• Experience working with adolescents in a school setting.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and mental health, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and executive functioning.
• Knowledge of IEPs and 504s.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience supporting students with self-advocacy and college prep.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to Upper School social-emotional learning initiatives and wellness programming.
• Provide short-term individual and small-group counseling to Upper School students for anxiety and stress management.
• Assist with re-entry planning after extended absences or disruptions.
• Support students with executive functioning and time management strategies.
• Maintain documentation consistent with school policies and professional standards.
• Collaborate with faculty, Learning Services, college counseling, and administrators on support plans.
• Participate in student support and grade-level meetings; offer classroom strategies for wellness.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Adolescent development knowledge

Mental health knowledge

Self-advocacy support

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology

Job description

Grades 9-12 School Counselor

McLean School (mcleanschool.org), a K-12 co-educational independent school in Potomac, Maryland, seeks a compassionate, skilled, and collaborative Grades 9-12 School Counselor to support students’ social-emotional well-being and learning and partner with faculty and families to foster student success. This 10-month position begins immediately and will remain open until filled. For 70 years, McLean School has helped bright K-12 students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college-preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. Through our Abilities Model®, we embrace both traditional learners and those with mild-to-moderate learning challenges. We recognize and teach individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge but never defining students by them.

Key Responsibilities

School-Wide & Preventive Programming

• Contribute to the Upper School social-emotional learning initiatives, including programming focused on stress management, healthy relationships, identity development, and resilience.
• Support wellness initiatives related to academic balance, technology use, and mental health awareness.
• Assist with re-entry planning following extended absences, hospitalizations, or other significant disruptions.

Student Support

• Support students with executive functioning, organization, time management, and
  strategies related to academic demands.
• In consultation with the administration, provide short-term individual and small-group counseling to Upper School students to address anxiety, stress management, peer relationships, self-advocacy, and school adjustment.
• Assist students in navigating transitions, including entry into Upper School, changes in academic placement, and preparation for postsecondary settings.
• Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety
  planning in collaboration with school leadership.
• Maintain timely and appropriate documentation consistent with school policies and professional standards.

Collaboration & Consultation

• Work closely with Upper School faculty, advisors, Learning Services team, college counseling, and administrators to develop and implement student support plans.
• Participate in student support meetings and grade-level meetings.
• Consult with teachers on classroom strategies that promote wellness, engagement, and independence.
• Partner with families to support adolescent development and reinforce strategies across home and school.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality and ethical standards consistent with licensure requirements and best practices for work with adolescents.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to adolescent mental health, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and supporting students with learning challenges.
• Uphold McLean School’s mission, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
• Maryland licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Counselor, Social Worker, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Experience working with adolescents in a school setting.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and mental health, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges.
• Knowledge of Individualized Education Plans and 504’s.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience supporting students with self-advocacy and preparation for college or other postsecondary pathways.

Attributes

• Warm, steady, and developmentally attuned to adolescents.
• Proactive, flexible, and solutions-oriented.
• Committed to fostering student independence, resilience, and self-awareness.
• Strong alignment with McLean School’s inclusive and student-centered philosophy.

Salary Range: $70,000-$100,000

McLean School is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, disability, genetic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability during recruitment, please contact the Director of Executive Support and Recruitment, Robin Speller.