Lower School Counselor

Trinity Episcopal School seeks a highly qualified counselor for our lower school division for the 2023-24 school year. Trinity Episcopal School is an inclusive, forward-thinking, K-8 independent school that meets each student where they are to nurture the whole child’s academic, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. Trinity is located in West Lake Hills, close to downtown Austin, Texas.

 Overview of position:

The Lower School Counselor is charged with providing a wide range of counseling and support services to students in the Lower School Division (Grades K-4) to promote the social and emotional development of all lower school students. The Counselor supports and enhances the educational process by helping students develop an accurate self-image, take personal responsibility, engage in healthy relationships, and procure knowledge and skills needed to lead meaningful lives as they search for their own unique and emerging identity.

All faculty are charged with the mission of nurturing each child academically, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, but it is the specific role of the counselor to promote and directly support the development of personal attitudes, skills, and behaviors in students and to proactively work with the Lower School faculty and staff to help ensure that our programs are effectively carrying out this mission.

The Lower School Counselor reports to the Head of Lower School.

Responsibilities

Individual Counseling

At Trinity we believe our work involves deliberately helping students gain a deep understanding of themselves. Sometimes students need individual attention, guidance, and counseling as they strive to acquire confidence and achieve mastery in their academic endeavors, further their responsibility and decision-making skills, explore and solidify personal relationships, and gain insight into themselves as individuals and as individuals within relationships. We strive to help our youngest students develop their communication, relationship, and social skills, including learning and practicing conflict resolution and coping skills.  The Lower School Counselor is trained and experienced in helping students employ these skills and techniques with courage, resilience, empathy, and integrity.

Community Counseling

Trinity strives to provide students with education around their growing development.  We take seriously our role in their development of the skills required to be healthy and successful personally, emotionally, and socially, and we find opportunities in both formal and informal settings to explore topics, scenarios, beliefs, attitudes, and interests that relate to our students as young people and social beings.  Our faculty and staff help students learn important information about their physical, neurological, and emotional growth as well as general lessons about life and living in community.  That means periodically gathering together for important messages in small group work, important SEL lessons, and interventions, both proactively and in response to current student needs.  The Counselor is charged with collaborating with Trinity teachers and specialists, partnering with outside professional groups, and involving parents in identifying needs, planning lessons, and delivering and assessing the instruction.

Program Supervision

The Lower School Counselor is charged with ensuring continued development and implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program.  They work closely with the Lower School Head to evaluate the counseling program, to articulate the program’s vision in accordance with the mission of the school, and to set goals and priorities for each school year.

In addition to the student/parent/faculty education on child development and personal and social development, and the counseling services provided by the Counselor, Trinity offers similar instruction, support, guidance, and mentoring to students through other aspects of the Lower School programming, such as character and sexuality education and specialized learning support systems, etc.  The Counselor is key in helping enhance, monitor, assess, and align these programs, as well.

Other Specific Responsibilities

• Assist Lower School Dean in supporting student behavioral needs
• Identify need for and coordinate supplemental educational programs of psychological nature (i.e., physical development/puberty, body image, etc.)
• Lead faculty professional development sessions on various aspects of child development
• Develop, implement, and maintain calendar/map of parent education programs
• Send periodic communication to parents promoting the counseling program and providing professional opinions and insights (emails, News & Notes, etc.)
• Attend “Student Talk” and DRT meetings by grade level
• Participate in Student Support Team (SST) meetings when student’s struggles are of personal nature
• Maintain confidential records of individual counseling sessions and meetings
• Coordinate with Middle School Counselor to develop, implement, and maintain school-wide counseling program goals and priorities
• Welcome and lead new students at JumpStart Jr.
• Meet informally with each new student at the start of the school year
• Attend Chapel daily, as well as special school events
• Assist with lunch and recess duty
• Attend division and full faculty & staff Meetings
• Provide referrals for faculty, staff and parents who seek guidance, advice, counseling services, etc.
• Serve as member of Lower School Leadership Team
• Engage in continuing professional education in counseling and child development

Our Mission:

At Trinity Episcopal School, we nurture each child academically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

We honor each child’s spirit for learning and life, ever mindful that we are all children of God.

At Trinity, our faculty

• seek knowledge of current instructional theories as a commitment to understanding and professional growth
• demonstrate a vast repertoire of effective and engaging instructional strategies that meet the needs of all students
• hold high – but not uniform – standards for/expectations of all students
• maximize instructional minutes
• model, teach, and expect age-appropriate discipline behaviors in a way that is mission-consistent and respectful
• meaningfully and personally engage with all students
• actively and collegially support colleagues
• positively and actively contribute to the life of the school
• collaborate with parents in the best interest of the students
• understand and respect the principal qualities of an Episcopal school
• respect and seek understanding in all facets of diversity

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a master’s degree in school counseling or related field; strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively with students, parents, and colleagues; deep knowledge of counseling techniques and best practices, understanding of child development and behavior; ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards; experience working in an elementary setting is a plus.

Contact Information