About Job

Our Mission

High Meadow School is a nursery through 8th-grade independent school that celebrates childhood, the joy of learning and play, and the power of community in a student-centered environment. We honor and welcome each child’s unique voice, identity, and approach to constructing knowledge. Drawing on current pedagogical research, we center diversity, equity, civic engagement, nature, and the arts in the school’s dynamic curriculum and culture. High Meadow students graduate with a strong academic foundation and a developed sense of self, ready to contribute their passions and values to building thriving, sustainable, and equitable communities.

Job Description

The Early Childhood and Lower School Counselor offers tailored social-emotional support to students in nursery through 3rd grade. During their time on campus, the school counselor will give support through running social support groups, offering one-on-one sessions for children who may require short-term social-emotional support, conducting wellness checks for students and families, and coaching and consulting with HMS staff and parents surrounding strategies that could be implemented at both home and classroom. The Early Childhood and Lower School Counselor participates on the school’s Health and Wellness team and collaborates to design and implement curriculum and policies that support mental health and well-being for school-aged children.

Essential Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. High Meadow School complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable New York State or local laws. Consistent with those requirements, High Meadow School will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability if such accommodation would allow the individual to satisfactorily perform the job's essential functions unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

Build loving, trusting, and supportive relationships with children across grades nursery-3rd grade
Provide social-emotional support services to children ages 3-10 in a school setting
Offer social support groups, one-to-one counseling for short-term needs, and in-classroom support to children who are deemed as needing support in the school environment
Conduct observations of children who may be candidates for further social-emotional or behavior support
Maintain accurate records surrounding counseling services and each child’s progress within counseling sessions
Conduct wellness checks on students who may be struggling with mental health issues or in danger of self-harm
Consult with teachers and administrators to provide guidance in creating and maintaining supportive programming and policies regarding social-emotional support and mental health
Offer coaching and education to faculty and staff surrounding strategies to bolster social-emotional health, child wellbeing, preventative or tier-1 behavior supports, positive behavior intervention, and restorative practices that can be used in classroom spaces
Educate HMS faculty, administration, and families surrounding current issues affecting child mental health and strategies for support
Communicate with families and outside support providers surrounding individual students on caseload; provide progress reports on a regular basis or as requested
Create and administrate student social-emotional plans in tandem with the school’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support model
Assist in the admissions process when needed, including conducting observations upon visits and reviewing 504 or mandated service plans
Offer a mental health perspective to conversations surrounding children who may need modifications to the general education program to be most successful
Aid in mental health support for middle school students in the absence of the middle school counselor

Work Details

This is a part-time, 10-month position
This position functions onsite 3 days per week
The physical demands of this job include some lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, crouching, reaching overhead, and/or climbing ramps or stairs
The job is performed in a generally hazard-free environment

Desired Qualifications*

*Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet all the qualifications described.

Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work desired, Bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work required; must possess or be in the process of gaining New York State Licensure in their area of specialization
Experience working with children in child-centered therapy practices or school-based settings
Alignment to the HMS mission and core beliefs
Able to genuinely project the High Meadow School image and culture by being genuinely friendly, deeply hospitable, showing great care, and taking pride in providing exceptional education
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and judgment regarding privileged information
Sensitive to the needs of students, parents and co-workers and feel empowered to take action to meet their needs within organizational guidelines
Strong understanding of child development and best counseling strategies across children ages 3-10
Ability to view all children from a strengths-based perspective
Up to date on current events affecting child mental health and development
Able to maintain a calm and supportive demeanor when working with children, colleagues, families, and supervisors
Must have a commitment to work regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in school-based or counseling environments

Clearances