What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lower School Counselor position at THE JOHN COOPER SCHOOL?
SUMMARY
The John Cooper School is seeking a Lower School Counselor for grades PK-5 during the 2026-2027 school year.
The School Counseling Program is designed to address the social, emotional, and developmental needs of students, families, and faculty that arise within the community. The School Counselor may provide crisis management, ongoing support, coaching, and referrals to community and mental health resources. Consultation and collaboration with teachers, administrators, Counseling department, families, and outside mental health professionals helps to provide seamless service and support to students.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participate in regular meetings with the Lower School Leadership Team
- Provide on-going evaluation, assessment, and support of students that are referred by administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and student self-referrals
- Crisis intervention
- Provide referrals for outside counseling, therapy, and psychological treatment or evaluation
- Serve as liaison for students receiving external psychological treatment
- Provide oversight of the Responsive Classroom SEL Program in the Lower School
- Serves as a member of the Counseling and Learning Resources Department; attends department meetings and consults with members of the department
- Be available to administrators, faculty, staff and parents for consultation and support
- Participate in school-related conferences, training, and committee work
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIORMENT
- Required to walk; stoop, kneel or crouch; reach with hands and arms
- Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 90% walking, and standing
- Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds
- Classroom work environment
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or other mental health field
- Two years’ counseling experience in a school-based setting; independent school experience preferred
- Experience with wellness and social emotional learning curriculum
- Effective interview and communication techniques with students, parents, teachers and administrators
- Teaching experience in a classroom setting is preferred
To Submit Application Materials:
Interested candidates should email a single PDF that includes the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Philosophy of Education
- List of three References – two professional and one personal (we will not contact references without candidate permission)
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national or ethnic origin, physical disability or age.