Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) is seeking excellent candidates for a School Counselor at the Preparatory.

Organization Overview

Founded in 1898, SHS is a Roman Catholic, coeducational, independent school and is comprised of four divisions: SHS Preschool and Kindergarten, SHS Lower and Middle Schools for grades one through eight, and Sacred Heart Preparatory for grades nine through twelve.

Located on a beautiful 64‐acre campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, SHS is one of 23 schools in the U.S. Network of Sacred Heart Schools and is affiliated with a network of over 200 Sacred Heart schools worldwide. The school's mission is to educate the whole child to be a leader who loves God and serves others. For more information about the schools, please visit our website: https://www.shschools.org/about/overview

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  We offer competitive compensation based on years of experience, education, and skill level. This position offers health and welfare benefits subject to plan parameters, including medical, dental, vision, Life & LTD, 403(b) retirement plan, and more.

Position Purpose: The School Counselor provides academic, social-emotional wellness guidance and consultation to students, their families, staff and the faculty in support of the overall mission of the school.

Essential Functions:

• Be able to speak about and integrate SHS educational philosophy as articulated in the Goals & Criteria
• Participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive and holistic student counseling program including personal, academic, and college counseling
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 150 students in grades 9-12
• Provide academic, career, and personal counseling services to individual students and small groups, as indicated
• Collaborate with and provide guidance and education to parents/guardians and faculty/staff (regarding adolescent development, trauma, learning, and the brain, etc.)
• Act as a case manager for any students that have temporary accommodation plans, who are in the Response to Intervention (RTI) process, or as indicated by student/family need
• Provide consultation and referrals to students and their parents/guardians as needed
• Maintain confidential files
• In collaboration with the school nurse and personal counselor communicate with parents regarding medical concerns (physical, social, emotional, and/or psychiatric)
• Collaborate with the Director of Health and Wellness, counseling team, and Health/Wellness Steering Committee to implement the school-wide health and wellness initiatives
• Serve as a school liaison to community mental health providers and students’ private therapists;
• Participate in student life activities, particularly where counseling expertise is advantageous (ex. Kairos)
• Collaborate with the Assistant Principal, Academic Life, Student Support Services Coordinator, and the Director, Academic Support Center to track and respond to concerns regarding individual student needs
• Serve on the Student Care Team
• Collaborate with classroom teachers/level teams to provide SEL within existing curriculum structures, as requested
• Maintain a clear commitment to the mission of the school and our educational philosophy as articulated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools and model behavior based on them
• Demonstrate commitment to social justice education; equity, access, inclusion, and multiculturalism
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Counseling

Required Qualifications:

• M.A. / M.Ed. in counseling or a related field
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in school counseling
• Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality
• Strong professional collaborative skills. Ability to work well with students and colleagues; willingness to be an active, enthusiastic member of the SHS community.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Clear understanding of adolescent development (cognitive and psychosocial)

Preferred Qualifications:

• PPS credential or licensed MFT/LCSW
• Bilingual- ability to read, write and speak (English / Spanish, Mandarin, or Vietnamese)
• Experience providing school counseling at the high school level

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Works in a fast-paced environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and complexities serving a varied constituency.
• May be called to work additionally to manage and coordinate during a crisis.
• Must comply with all state vaccination requirements and show proof of vaccination including but not limited to COVID-19 or proof of eligibility for exemption.
• Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.
• Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled office environment. Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold. May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time.
• Able to travel safely and comfortably across a 64-acre campus.