School Counselor or Social Worker (Fall 2026)

The Leelanau School; Michigan; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Leelanau School in Michigan is seeking a School Counselor or Social Worker for the 2026-2027 school year. This role focuses on supporting adolescents in their academic, emotional, and social development within a small independent boarding school environment. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field, and possess prior experience in school counseling with adolescents. The position includes organizing activities, serving on the Student Wellness team, and coordinating with outside therapists.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with adolescents in an educational setting.
• Ability to maintain counseling records and documentation.
• Experience coordinating services with outside therapists.

Responsibilities

• Support adolescents' academic, emotional, and social development.
• Plan and organize social-emotional education activities.
• Serve on the Student Wellness team to address emerging issues.
• Coordinate counseling services with outside therapists.

Skills

Support and engage adolescents

Strong communication

Organization

Time management

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Education or related field

Job description

School Counselor or Social Worker (Fall 2026)

The Leelanau School seeks a School Counselor or Social Worker for the 2026-2027 school year. As a school, we place an emphasis on experiential learning and fostering community through living our values: Stewardship, Leadership, Awareness, Integrity, Resilience, Courage, and Interconnectedness. The School Counselor is an integral part of the overall student experience, bringing leadership to our campus and care to our students.

The Leelanau School is a grade 9-12 co-educational, independent boarding and day school in operation since 1929. The Leelanau School is located in Glen Arbor, Michigan on a beautiful wooded campus on the shores of Lake Michigan, surrounded by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We are an intentionally small school of approximately 40 students.

The mission of The Leelanau School is to ignite a passion for learning in a boarding school environment where students thrive by engaging academically and by celebrating everyone’s unique learning styles in a culture of acceptance, preparing for successful and meaningful lives in higher education, careers, citizenship, and service.

Qualified candidates for this position will demonstrate related work experience and hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in counseling, social work, youth development, education or a related field.

Counselor Job Description

• Demonstrate a desire to support and engage adolescents in their academic, emotional and social development.
• Serve as a role model to the students.
• Meaningfully connect and engage with students, and communicate with parents.
• Implement means by which we construct and sustain a campus climate supportive of positive adolescent development.
• Plan and organize Council activities (Council is weekly whole community time dedicated for social-emotional education.)
• Create opportunities for student leadership that enable social, academic and emotional growth leading to the enhancement of their individual developmental assets and life skills.
• Lead faculty/staff in best practices to support the social/emotional health of our campus.
• Demonstrate strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
• Maintain counseling records and necessary documentation.
• Serve on the Student Wellness team, problem solving emerging issues.
• Coordinate counseling services for students with outside therapists. Act as the liaison between private counselors and the school.
• Work with students on conflict resolution.
• Work with students as needed to support their day to day social/emotional concerns.
• Serve as Administrator on Duty one evening each week in exchange for day duty.
• Periodically facilitate off-campus weekend activities for students.
• Service as an advisor for the student leadership team in the event of a student’s mental health crisis.
• In cooperation with our Learning Skills Advisors, coordinate postsecondary exploration and goal setting, including the college application process and college entrance exams.
• Serve on the Admissions Committee to assist in the consideration of prospective students and participate in interviews of prospective families.
• Participate in community events as possible (i.e. meals, special events, student performances, etc.).
• Embrace and advance the mission of the Leelanau School.

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Education or related field.
• Previous experience in school counseling and working with adolescents.
• Comply with all necessary State of Michigan and FBI background checks.