Job Summary
At The Hirsch Academy, we are not your typical school—and we’re not looking for a typical counselor. We’re searching for someone who thrives in a collaborative, relationship-centered environment and is deeply committed to neurodiversity-affirming support.

Our students are bright, complex, and diverse thinkers—including autistic students, students with ADHD, mood differences, sensory and learning differences, and students who communicate and engage with the world in a variety of ways. We embrace all of that—and we need our next counselor to do the same.

We are proudly rooted in the DIR®/Floortime approach. We partner with our students to help them build meaningful connections, emotional safety, and regulation—not compliance. We do not use ABA or behavioral-based interventions, and we are very clear about this: our school does not align with traditional behavioral models.

If you’re energized by working alongside a creative, compassionate team and you’re ready to roll up your sleeves to meet students exactly where they are, we’d love to meet you.

What You’ll Do (Two Days a Week—Preferably Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:00am - 3:00 or 4:00pm):

• Support emotional well-being and self-advocacy for our neurodivergent students
• Co-regulate, collaborate, and problem-solve with students navigating big feelings, mood differences, social complexities, and life transitions
• Work closely with teachers, families, and our therapy team to ensure students feel safe, respected, and understood
• Provide in-the-moment support in the classroom, on the playground, or wherever it’s needed—not just in an office
• Lead or co-lead small group activities, check-ins, or social-emotional learning moments based on the day’s needs
• Contribute to a school culture that celebrates differences and presumes competence in every student

Who You Are:

• A licensed counselor, social worker, psychologist, or therapist with 5+ years of experience in a school setting

• Well-versed in working with autistic students, students with ADHD, mood differences, and other neurodivergent profiles

• Trained in (or eager to learn more about) DIR®/Floortime, strengths-based counseling, and non-coercive approaches

• Committed to neurodiversity-affirming care, not compliance-based models

• Flexible, creative, and ready to be part of a dynamic, hands-on team

• Someone who finds joy in difference and brings warmth, humor, and curiosity to the work

We invite passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of students to apply for this rewarding position. Send your resume and a short note telling us why you’d be a great fit to Shelley Carnes at scarnes@hirschacademy.org. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $30.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 13 per week

Work Location: In person