Middle School Counselor

Buckley; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Buckley School in Los Angeles seeks a Middle School Counselor to support emotional, social, and psychological needs of grades 6–8 through one-on-one counseling and program design.

The counselor collaborates with administrators and teachers, develops counseling programs, and stays current with professional development to ensure compliant, student-centered support across a gender-inclusive K-12 setting.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in School Counseling, Social Work, or related field required.
• Appropriate counseling license/certification required.
• Minimum two years of Middle School experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling to middle school students on academic and personal issues.
• Develop and implement school counseling programs to promote student achievement and well-being.
• Communicate with parents/guardians and collaborate with teachers and administrators.
• Coordinate student support services and participate in professional development.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Facilitation skills

DEI knowledge

Excellent communication

Student counseling

Education

Advanced degree: School Counseling or related

License/certification in counseling

2+ years Middle School experience

Tools

Google Drive

Blackbaud/Education Edge

Job description

The Buckley School is a dynamic, nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion, and as such, seeks to hire talented employees with diverse backgrounds.

Middle School Counselor

The Buckley School, Los Angeles's oldest K-12 gender-inclusive learning institution, has an opening for a Middle School Counselor to serve the emotional, social, and psychological needs of our 6-8 grade population through one-on-one counseling and through the creation of educational programs. The counselor works closely with administrators and teachers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide individual and group counseling to students on academic and personal/social issues.
• Address students' social and emotional needs, including conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and developing coping strategies.
• Develop and implement behavior management plans and support systems for students with behavioral issues. Communicate effectively with parents/guardians regarding students' progress, concerns, and potential interventions.
• Design and implement comprehensive school counseling programs that promote student achievement and well-being.
• Stay current with developments in school counseling and education through ongoing professional development and participation in professional organizations.
• Ensure all counseling practices comply with state and federal regulations, as well as school policies. Works closely with the middle school student support team and K-12 student support team.
• Function as a liaison among faculty, advisors, parents/guardians, and those providing outside support to students. Communicate often with faculty and advisors.
• Coordinate parent education programs.
• Coordinate classroom observations of students with faculty and administration.
• Periodically conduct professional development workshops for faculty and staff.

PROCEDURAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Upholds all expectations, policies and practices outlined in the school's employee handbook, the collective bargaining agreement, other foundational documents, and directives from senior administrators.
• Maintains accurate and timely electronic records for each student.

STUDENTS/STAFF/COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Creates warm and uplifting professional relationships with students, families, and all constituencies of the school.
• Communicates with students, families, and administrators in a timely and effectively manner concerning student progress.
• Serves as an ambassador for the school at all times, on and off campus, for example but not limited to: upholding the expectations in the employee and family handbooks; speaking positively about the school and its community members; participating in the school's efforts to recruit and retain new families, faculty and staff; etc.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

• Assist in the transition to and from school divisions, communicating regularly with student support staff in both Lower and Upper Schools, including an annual transition meeting in the spring.
• Maintain a current referral list of outside professionals for both mental/social/emotional health services and learning difference support, acting as a liaison between the school and outside professional support.
• Observe students in classroom settings to help teachers with behavior management.
• Participate in Outdoor Education, chaperone school events, attend grade level meetings, and get involved in Middle School life.
• Conduct admission interviews for possible incoming students when needed.
• Review the school counseling program and learning differences services annually with administrators and other support staff.
• Establish a planning calendar for activities with the other counselors.
• Plan, implement, and maintain the systems necessary for the support, maintenance, and improvement of the school counseling program.
• Articulate the school counseling program and learning differences support program to students, parents, teachers, advisors, staff, and community.
• Develop and maintain skills needed to utilize technology systems and participate in professional development activities.
• Cooperate and collaborate with other professionals in enhancing the education of students and their social/emotional wellness.
• Meet weekly with Middle School Administration and other student support staff to consult and collaborate (MS Student Support Team). Attend all faculty and grade level meetings, and K-12 student support team meetings.

PROFESSIONALISM

• Adhere to the ethical standards and preferred practices of related state and national professional associations.
• Demonstrate knowledge of local policies and state and federal laws pertaining to children.
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and professional development.
• Maintain professional confidentiality and discretion at all times.
• Be comfortable working with teachers and administration in a collaborative environment.

KNOWLEDGE

• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations, including students, parents, and faculty.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• An advanced degree in School Counseling, Social Work, School Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Applied Psychology is required.
• Appropriate license, certification, and/or other documentation attesting to the candidate's expertise in counseling is required.
• A minimum of two years of experience working with Middle School children and families in a school setting is preferred.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills
• Kindness, compassion, sensitivity, and the ability to listen carefully.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated competency in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Demonstrated knowledge of child and adolescent development and social-emotional learning.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations, including students, parents, and faculty.
• Genuine interest and excitement in working with students and a desire to support their learning and growth.
• Comfortable being visible and engaged on campus
• Models the highest standards of professionalism and creates warm, uplifting, and trusting learning environments and working relationships marked by humor, positivity, humility, empathy, and excellent emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates great individual integrity, initiative, self-awareness, commitment to personal and professional growth, and the ability to receive and apply feedback
• Possesses a passion for education, particularly in an independent school environment, conveyed by a solid understanding of educational practice and philosophy grounded in DEI
• Relishes the joys and challenges of working with K-12 students and possesses a deep understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of children
• Demonstrates adaptability, dependability, good judgment, strong social skills and the ability to read, assess, imagine, evaluate, calculate, & make wise decisions
• Experience with developing scope and sequence, working in collaboration with department peers
• Demonstrates strong communication skills in person, in writing, by phone, and through other electronic means (such as Zoom)
• Knowledge of Google Drive (Sheets and Docs), Blackbaud/Education Edge, and the ability to learn new and evolving technology

COMPENSATION

$95,000 - $130,000 per year depending on experience.

The base salary is separate from fringe benefits, such as retirement contributions, daily lunch, on-site parking, contributions to medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D plans, our generous time off policy, or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Our pay ranges are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at The Buckley School, your actual base salary will be determined by your education and experience.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The Buckley School proudly carries on the mission of its founder, Dr. Isabelle Buckley, who in 1933 set out to provide students with an education characterized not only by academic excellence, but also a sense of self-esteem, responsibility, and character. An independent, gender-inclusive day school for students in kindergarten through grade 12, providing students with a program based on critical thinking, creative self-expression through arts, physical development, and moral education lies at the heart of Buckley's ethos.

At The Buckley School, faculty and staff believe in their students, see their capacity for growth, and nurture their ability to create and evaluate. Students are honored for their diverse backgrounds and admired for their ability to lead with empathy and courage. Inspired by its mission, the Portrait of a Graduate, Dr. Buckley's Four-Fold Plan - education with equal emphasis on Academics, the Arts, Athletics, and Moral Education - and the Buckley Commitment of Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, Kindness, Self-Reliance, and Self-Discipline, faculty uplift students, partner with parents, and build community every day.