Lower and Middle School Counselor

School Description

Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion.

With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.

Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized PreK-12 independent Catholic school in Monterey, California, seeks an experienced and thoughtful educator to serve as the Lower and Middle School Counselor. This position provides an exceptional opportunity to build on a well-established tradition of social and emotional education at Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School. The Lower and Middle School is composed of over 200 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students, whose dedicated faculty and staff collaborate to design and deliver a dynamic learning environment.

This is a unique opportunity to join students and teachers who joyfully and actively engage together in creating values-based, intentional community. The Lower and Middle School Counselor will join an experienced team of educators to create, organize, and coordinate the school’s counseling services, including oversight of the school’s Health and Wellness Program in the Lower and Middle School. This position supports the school, its mission and values, and its leadership while serving the educational, emotional, personal, and social needs of its students.

The full-time Lower and Middle School Counselor is responsible for the effective organization and coordination of students’ social-emotional education, the Health and Wellness Program, and counseling services. Reporting directly to the Head of Lower and Middle School, and working closely with the Lower and Middle School Leadership Team, the Lower and Middle School Counselor plays an important role in supporting the school’s strategic goal of building a culture of health and wellness.

This position has an active presence on campus and is a member of the Child Study Team and the Health and Wellness Committee. The Lower and Middle School Counselor delivers a comprehensive school counseling program for PreK through grade 8, including crisis intervention; short-term counseling focusing on emotional regulation strategies; social-emotional skill-building groups; and parent and teacher consultation, education, and collaboration.

Major decisions regarding student social-emotional needs and mental health are made in consultation with the Head of Lower and Middle School and the Child Study Team.

Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

• Assess and assist students with issues related to emotional, personal, social, and educational development and adjustment
• Work as a member of a cohesive team in support of positive student growth
• Serve as a member of the Child Study Team
• Support and communicate with advisors, faculty, administration, and parents as needed
• Provide individual short-term counseling, consultation, and referrals for students as needed
• Partner with teachers to teach personal boundary and safe touch curriculum
• Cultivate relationships with and knowledge of off-campus providers
• Attend faculty meetings, chapel services,…