Director of Secondary School Counseling

About Town School:
Town School for Boys is a K-8 all-boys' independent school located in San Francisco with approximately 415 students, of whom 50% come from self-identified families of color, and a faculty: student ratio of 1:6. Our diverse faculty and staff can be characterized by their warmth, collegiality, and dedication to our mission and values. At Town, learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.

For more information, please visit our Town Facts page, read about "Why a Boys' School," or learn about our community of belonging.

Position

Description:

Director of Secondary School Counseling

Town School for Boys, a K-8 Independent Day School located in San Francisco, is seeking applicants for the Director of Secondary School Counseling position for the 2026-27 school year.

Reports to:

Head of Upper School

The Director of Secondary School Counseling serves as the primary guide and support person for 8th grade students and parents as they navigate the secondary school admissions process. The role is an administrative 10-month position and includes some teaching as part of the 8th grade Experiences program in the fall. The Counselor designs and facilitates a learning journey for parents and students alike to learn about schools, reflect and consider fit, complete the application process and help each boy find the "just right" school.

To do this job well, the Counselor should enjoy time with students and parents alike, but be especially effective at developing strong relationships with 8th grade boys in order to serve as their advocate and authentic cheerleader in the admissions process. The Counselor partners with 8th grade teachers to complete recommendations and build a thorough understanding of their curricula and expectations.

Strong relationships and rapport between the Counselor and 8th grade faculty are vital. The Counselor also develops and sustains strong relationships with secondary schools across the nation and notably hosts the largest boarding school fair on the West Coast each spring at Town School. In addition, the Counselor advocates with integrity for 8th grade students at the secondary schools and understands the complexity of the high school admissions process, including tuition assistance.

In addition, the Counselor tracks, monitors, and presents longitudinal data regarding admission results, educational outcomes, and overall trends. Supporting families through the process also consists of hosting informational meetings, alumni and school sponsored events, and leading special events for the 8th grade class.

Duties and

Responsibilities Include:

The Secondary School Counselor reports directly to the Head of School and is responsible for administering all aspects of the secondary school search and admissions process, including the following responsibilities:

* Introducing students and their parents to a wide array of secondary school options, including independent, religious, public, and boarding programs; educating students and their parents about high school options, the high school admissions process, trends, general procedures, and standardized testing; advising and supporting classes of 45-50 boys and their families as they go through the process; and helping students and families aspire realistically and choose wisely.

* Meeting with students, both individually and in groups, to guide them through various components of the secondary school admissions process. This includes conducting workshops and one-on-one sessions to ensure that students are prepared for campus visits, open houses, essays, interviews, standardized testing, and writing thank you notes. Working with students and their parents to help them determine a realistic list of schools and to consider their individual school choices when decisions are released.

* Conducting annual writing and interview workshops and meeting with students individually to support essay writing and interviewing skills. Setting up additional mock interviews with members of the professional community outside of the high school counseling office in order to give students authentic interview practice.

* Meeting with approximately 50+ admissions representatives who visit Town School for Boys each season and facilitating meetings between them and Town School for Boys students. Serving as a liaison between families and high school admissions offices throughout the year.

* Visiting local and boarding secondary schools on a regular basis to get to know admissions officers and heads of school and to become familiar with the variety of school programs throughout the country.

* Working with the 7th and 8th grade teachers to complete recommendations and with the Registrar to collate and submit academic records, including SSAT scores, transcripts, report cards, artifacts from their Town School for Boys years, and teacher/advisor/coach comments.

* Ensuring that each 8th grade student has access to SSAT prep, including advocating for financial…