Upper School Counselor

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Full-time Regular Professional Atlanta GA, Atlanta, GA, US

8 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $75,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

UPPER SCHOOL COUNSELOR & AP PSYCHOLOGY TEACHER

Pace Academy is an independent college preparatory school in Atlanta, Ga., with an enrollment of 1,150 students in Pre-First through 12th grades. Pace Academy provides a rigorous academic curriculum to prepare students for success at a variety of prestigious colleges and universities. The school strives to provide an environment that stimulates physical health, mental wellness, a spirit of service and respect for diversity.

At Pace, we hire culturally competent and responsive candidates who believe in the critical importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the life of a school and can effectively incorporate those principles in their teaching. Pace actively seeks candidates from historically underrepresented populations.

The individual in this highly sensitive and confidential position will provide personal, social and mental health support to Upper School students in individual, small-group and large-group settings. More specifically, the counselor, in partnership with the class dean, will serve the Class of 2030 as students progress through the Pace Upper School. They will also collaborate with the counseling team and division head to develop and implement preventative student mental wellness programs, and to provide training and professional development to faculty, staff, parents and caregivers as needed.

The Upper School Counselor also teaches AP Psychology to prepare students for the AP Psychology exam. The position requires a joyful disposition, high energy and enthusiasm for school life, as well as the highest level of confidentiality, excellent organizational and technological skills, warmth and a sense of humor. The candidate must excel at and enjoy collaboration and consensus building, and possess patience, persistence and excellent communication skills.

• Teach up to 2 (two) sections of AP Psychology or a psychology-related course
• Co-teach up to 2 (two) sections of Pathways, a life-skills and personal development course for ninth-grade students
• Conduct short-term individual counseling with students experiencing personal, social, behavioral or family problems
• Partner closely with the class dean, dean of students, division head and counseling team to provide holistic social, emotional and academic support to students
• Identify and assess students’ psychological needs and use this data to make appropriate referrals and treatment plans
• Provide consultation to families, teachers and other school personnel
• Function as a liaison between outside mental health professionals working with students and the school
• Respond to school/student crises and emergencies
• Plan and lead workshops on psycho-educational topics for faculty and parents/caregivers
• Advise student-led organizations related to mental health
• Consult with the school psychologist on student issues
• Interpret diagnoses to school personnel, families and students and make recommendations as to how the school can assist students with these diagnoses
• Maintain confidential records using the Pace-approved note-taking system
• Apply ethics and standards of professional practice in the delivery of school mental health services and observe relevant laws and policies that govern practice

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or other related field required; 2-5 years experience working with adolescent and secondary students
• Prior experience teaching AP Psychology or a college-level psychology class preferred
• Experience in an independent school setting preferred
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor or working toward licensure preferred
• If licensure is held as LCSW, LMFT, LPC or related certification, the licensure must be current and maintained with continuing education

• Classroom environment that may regularly require the employee to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop or kneel
• Ability to sit at a computer desk for an extended period
• Ability to operate a computer, smart board and/or projector
• Ability to lift, carry, push or pull 30-50 lbs with assistance

Pace offers a complete benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurances, a 403(b) plan with a generous match, paid term life and disability insurances, supplemental insurance plans and Flexible Spending Accounts.

Attach the following in a Word or PDF format;
Resume, Cover Letter, List of three references when applying online.