School Counselor

DEPARTMENT:

Wellness

REPORTS TO:

Director of Counseling

DIRECT REPORTS:

None

LEVEL:

Expert

WORK HOURS:

7:45 am-4:00 pm; occasional evening presentations

JOB CATEGORY:

Instructional Support, Exempt

OVERVIEW:

Kent Denver School is seeking a full-time School Counselor to work with students in grades 6-12, with a primary focus on 9 - 12. The counselor will work under the supervision of the Director of Counseling and will be a key member of the student wellness team. The ideal applicant for this position will have a master's or doctorate degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy with current licensure in Colorado and experience as a teacher or counselor at the middle school and/or high school level.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Mental Health Counseling

30%

• Build rapport and create trusting relationships with diverse middle and high school students.

• Provide solution-focused, brief interventions to support social/emotional concerns.

• Conduct risk assessments and coordinate with administrators, parents/guardians, and community mental health providers to mitigate risk and create safety plans.

• Provide guidance to parents/guardians to support healthy adolescent development.

Coordination of Care & Student Support

25%

• Refer students to care providers and coordinate with student providers to create support for students at school.

• Establish partnerships with parents/guardians so as to support student's social/emotional needs.

• Support staff/faculty in creating classroom interventions to support a student's social/emotional needs.

• Partner with deans of students to support students in navigating social situations.

• Participate in students of concern meetings with administrators and deans to create student-centered interventions for students facing academic, behavioral, and emotional challenges.

Health Prevention, Education, and Programming

25%

• Design and facilitate workshops and courses promoting adolescent well-being and pro-social behavior.

• Teach lessons related to emotion regulation, substance use prevention, suicide prevention, boundaries, consent, healthy relationships, and adolescent brain development.

• Partner with community organizations to create prevention programming for students.

• Participate in the Walker Wellness Institute Speaker Series for parent education and engage parents in small group debriefs.

• Advise students pursuing independent study projects in health, psychology, and wellness.

• Supervise student clubs and student leadership efforts related to wellness.

Social Emotional Learning and School Culture

10%

• Collaborate with the Director of Counseling in the implementation of R.U.L.E.R. SEL program.

• Support faculty and staff in the integration of an "emotions matter" mindset in and out of the classroom.

• Design social-emotional learning activities to be used in classroom instruction and advisory programs.

• Assist deans of students, DEI office, and school administration in creating policies and best practices to promote a culture of safety and belonging at school.

Other

10%

• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Counseling

• Additional school-day student-facing activity (e.g. advisory, club, elective, DEI initiative, etc), as agreed by the Director of Counseling

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

Problem-Solving

• Self-starter who can independently assist stakeholders in identifying next steps for problem solving.

• A collaborative worker who can review problem-solving tactics with the Wellness Team, take feedback from peers, and execute solutions consistent with the school's values.

Teamwork

• Willingness to work daily alongside wellness team members, deans, advisors, and administrators to create individualized student solutions as well as community-wide programs to support student well-being.

Communication

• Communicates confidential information and sensitive topics effectively with multiple stakeholders.

Adaptability

• Effectively balances the various demands that come with a fast-paced work environment in a school setting.

• Remains organized and can balance the needs of individual stakeholders with the needs of larger groups and programs.

Additional Information / Other

• Preference given to candidates who possess licensure to work with students in a student support capacity (CDE Special Services Provider License) and/or possess licensure to operate as a mental health provider in Colorado (DORA LCSW, LMFT, LPC, LP). Candidates eligible for clinical licensure (LPCC, CSW, LSW, etc.) may also apply.