Overall Responsibilities and Expectations:

• Identifies and supports students in need of support, assesses their level of need, refers to appropriate services, and follows up to monitor response to interventions/services
• Provides short-term individual and small-group counseling
• Serves as a resource for students, faculty, administrators, and parents to understand and deal with students' social, emotional, behavioral, and personal needs
• Emphasizes preventative and developmental counseling to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems and to enhance the student's personal, social, and academic growth.
• Consults with and serves as a resource for teachers, staff, and parents regarding the developmental needs of students, which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  • Conducts and facilitates conferences with teachers, students, and parents
  • Conducts in-service programs for faculty and staff
  • Models appropriate behavior with student, parent, and colleague interactions
• Maintains records to document interactions, interventions, and decisions in accordance with state law, industry standards, and Sumner Academy's policies
• Conducts structured, goal-oriented counseling sessions in response to identified needs relative to the achievement and school success of individuals and groups of students
• Refers students and their parents to community agencies, programs, or specialists as appropriate. Maintains a comprehensive list of community resources.
• Teaches middle school adolescent issues courses and leads discussions with faculty regarding adolescent issues.
• Partners with the Middle School Division Director to build an advisory and mentor curriculum and partners with Lower School Director on a character development program
• Expertise in prevention, intervention, and crisis counseling is also desired
• The school counselor is integral to the wellness team that meets regularly and works collaboratively with the school leadership

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Master's degree in social work, psychology, or school counseling required
  • Licensed in Tennessee or can become licensed (i.e., LCSW-C, LMSW, LCPC) preferred
• Minimum of three years experience providing direct clinical care to children and/or adolescents
• Experience working with elementary and middle school students. Experience working with children and families in a school setting is preferred
• Understands and uses common diagnostic assessment tools to guide treatment and decision-making
• Experience implementing individual, group, and/or universal evidence-based interventions
• Ability to build a strong rapport with students, families, school personnel, and external support providers
• Ability to create, develop, and teach social-emotional curriculum responsive to current needs in child development
• Knowledge of current research related to adolescent social-emotional development and mental health
• Ability to collect, review, and analyze data to improve support services
• Willingness to develop one's knowledge and skills through professional development
• Ability to work and communicate effectively and efficiently with and within a culturally diverse student body, staff, and community
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, visible, resilient, collaborative, and approachable
• Adherence to their respective national and state board guidelines. Adherence to their respective Code of Ethics and maintains license in good standing
• An enthusiastic and strong work ethic, a team player, and a self-starter