School Counselor

Southern Association of Independent Schools, Inc.; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The School Counselor at Southern Association of Independent Schools, Inc. supports social and emotional development for early childhood through elementary students, collaborating with teachers, staff, and families to provide individual and group counseling.

The role emphasizes coping skills, self-regulation, and safe learning environments, with responsibilities including SEL instruction, behavior support planning, family communication, and participation in student support teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in counseling, school counseling, or related field.
• Three+ years of experience with children in school or therapeutic settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide short-term individual and small group counseling for students.
• Support students in coping skills, self-regulation, and positive peer relationships.
• Collaborate with teachers to identify student needs and interventions.
• Support the emotional well-being of faculty and staff as needed.
• Provide continuing education for faculty about trauma, child safety, and reporting compliance.
• Develop and implement behavior support plans.
• Lead social-emotional learning (SEL) activities aligned with school-wide goals.
• Oversee SEL curriculum delivery in classrooms.
• Communicate with parents/guardians to provide support and referrals when appropriate.
• Participate in student support team meetings and school-wide mental health initiatives.
• Maintain confidentiality and accurate records per legal and ethical standards.
• Uphold the school's mission, values, and behavioral expectations.

Skills

Developmental characteristics

Social-emotional interventions

School counseling

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration with staff

Networking with counselors

Education

Master’s degree in counseling

Job description

The School Counselor supports the social and emotional development of early childhood and elementary school students. Working collaboratively with teachers, staff, and families, the counselor provides individual and group counseling, supports behavior and emotional regulation, and promotes a safe and supportive learning environment.

General Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the developmental characteristics of children ages three through twelve years.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of social, emotional, and behavioral interventions, including the most recent research findings regarding these issues. Broad knowledge of counseling/social-emotional practices and programming for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
• A general understanding of the details and operations of an emotional support program as well as those, of working in a school environment.
• Ability to provide resources and information related to the social-emotional well-being of students to TCS faculty and parents.
• Ability to work with parents, students, faculty and staff to maintain the counseling program to accomplish improvement goals, and to communicate a positive and encouraging message to the school community.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to network with school counselors in similar positions at other schools and educational and counseling professionals in the community to keep abreast of the most recent effective practices as well as those community resources that may be available to TCS students.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide short-term individual and small group counseling for students dealing with academic, social, or emotional challenges.
• Support students in developing coping skills, conflict resolution, self-regulation, and positive peer relationships.
• Collaborate with teachers and staff to identify student needs and recommend interventions.
• Support the emotional well-being of faculty and staff as needed.
• Provide continuing education for faculty and staff related to trauma, child safety, and reporting compliance.
• Assist in developing and implementing behavior support plans as needed.
• Promote and lead social-emotional learning (SEL) activities aligned with school-wide goals.
• Oversee the teaching of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum in the classroom
• Communicate with parents/guardians to provide support, resources, and referrals when appropriate.
• Participate in student support team meetings and contribute to school-wide mental health initiatives.
• Maintain confidentiality and accurate records in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
• Uphold and promote the school’s mission, values, and behavioral expectations.

Qualifications

• A saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and the commitment to follow his leadership.
• Understanding of Christian world and life view as it relates to all parts of school life.
• Master’s degree or higher in counseling, school counseling, or another related field.
• A minimum of three years’ experience working with children in a school or therapeutic setting.