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School Counselor
The FCDS School Counselor supports and strengthens the social, emotional, and academic experiences of all boys in Kindergarten-Grade 9 through collaboration with students, faculty/staff, and parents. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of developmental norms, recognizes and advocates for student strengths, and partners collaboratively with stakeholders to improve student well-being. The goal of the school counselor is to help create a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where all students can succeed and thrive. This position is part-time.
Responsibilities include:
- Individual Counseling: Provide one-on-one counseling sessions for students to address personal, social, emotional, and academic concerns.
- Crisis Intervention: Respond to emergency situations involving students' emotional well-being, providing immediate support and referrals as needed.
- Academic Support: Collaborate with teachers, learning specialists, and parents to address academic challenges and develop strategies to support student success.
- Behavioral Support: Work with students who are struggling with behavior issues and help develop appropriate intervention strategies.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Implement and promote social-emotional learning programs and activities that enhance students' emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. In collaboration with the Director of Inclusive Excellence, this role includes teaching SEL lessons and partnering with the Advisory committee to train advisors, plan lessons, and reinforce skills developed in the school’s comprehensive Health and Wellness curriculum.
- Parent and Teacher Collaboration: Maintain open communication with parents and teachers to ensure student well-being and academic progress. Provide guidance and resources to families regarding student mental health and behavior.
- Team Approach: The school counselor is a member of the Student Success Team (SST), and collaborates with the Boys Lab and the Director of Inclusive Excellence in promotion of whole child wellness.
- Referral Services: Identify students who may need additional support or services (e.g., special education, outside therapy) and make appropriate referrals.
- Advocacy: Advocate for students’ needs and work to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need for academic and personal success.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and confidential records of counseling sessions, student progress, and any referrals made. The school counselor also supports the writing and implementation ofLearning Plans based on neuropsychological testing, IEPs, and 504s.
- Professional Development: Participate in ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices in school counseling and student mental health. As needed, lead professional development for faculty and staff.
Qualifications:
- 2-5 years of experience working with elementary and middle school-aged children (K-9) in a counseling role, preferably in a school setting.
- Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, School Psychology, or a related field.
- Proficiency in assessing student needs and developing and implementing appropriate interventions.
- Knowledge and facility with the integration of children's social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development.
- Experience in facilitating curriculum and programs designed to teach and reinforce wellness-based developmental skills at appropriate age levels.
To Apply:
- Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact Assistant to Head of School, Missy Valdivia. missy.valdivia@fairfieldcountryday.org
- Please provide:
- A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position
- A current résumé
- A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission)
Fairfield Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, all-boys day school in Fairfield, Connecticut.
FCDS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
FCDS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
FCDS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.