Jobs

Walnut Hill School for the Arts has an immediate opening for an experienced School Counselor to join the Health Services team at a grades 9-12 arts focused boarding school.

The School Counselor provides mental health support, assessment, triage, and referrals for students. The School Counselor also provides a skilled resource on campus for adults including faculty, staff, administrators, and dorm parents.

This is a full-time position during the academic year reporting to the Director of Counseling & Wellness.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide short term individual counseling, group counseling, and crisis counseling to students;
• Respond and attend to emergency situations as needed;
• Refer students to outside professionals, psychotherapists, psychopharmacologists, and nutritionists; with assistance from the Health Services Administrative Assistant, schedule appointments with therapists, arrange transportation, and communicate with parents on how to proceed;
• Provide case management of individual caseload of students receiving mental health support including communication with outside providers, families, and adults on campus;
• Collaborate with appropriate individuals to discuss and plan for students in psycho-social crisis or challenging states;
• Act as a consultant to adults on campus related to adolescent development and mental health,
• Provide guidance and support to parents and caregivers around child development and issues related to mental health through consultation, parent education programming, outside therapeutic referrals and liaising with mental health professionals in the community as needed
• Collaborate with Walnut Hill adults for direct student support when appropriate.
• Work with the Director of Counseling and Wellness to provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff related to the mental health and social-emotional issues having an impact upon the school community;
• Plan and implement social emotional learning and mental health education lessons to groups of students in partnership with members of the student life office in consultation with the Director of Counseling and Wellness;
• Assist with and support school-wide wellness initiatives;
• Speak authentically about the imperative for diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools; be committed to learning about and practicing anti-racist work; recognize how your identity impacts your leadership;
• Support the Student Life program including weekend duty, chaperoning school events, and/or participating in other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the school year;
• Support students and attend or engage in arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

• An advanced degree in counseling, school counseling, psychology or social work (or related field);
• 1 – 3 years’ experience working with adolescents, preferably in a school setting;
• Ability to handle highly sensitive information with discretion and keep high standards of confidentiality;
• Must be available to attend to emergencies/crisis situations, should they arise and must perform in a responsible manner consistent with the School’s mission and policies;
• Exhibit capacity to routinely assess, assist, and escalate student issues as needed;
• Demonstrated cultural competence in working with diverse populations and commitment to learning about and practicing anti-racist work;
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive community;
• Ability to work with, and respond effectively to, the needs of a wide range of community members;
• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to problem solve;
• Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and organizational skills;
• Strong verbal, written, and computer skills; proficiency with Google applications and Microsoft Office;
• COVID-19 vaccination and booster required; and
• Share an educational and artistic vision that aligns with the core principles of Walnut Hill.

About us:

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, located in Natick, Massachusetts and 20 minutes from Boston, is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience designed for student artists in grades 9–post graduate. Walnut Hill combines a comprehensive college-preparatory academic curriculum with intensive, pre-professional artistic training in theatre, dance, music, visual art, and writing, film & media arts. Walnut Hill is committed to creating and enhancing an inclusive environment, and welcoming and celebrating a wide range of cultural, artistic, and educational backgrounds that compliments and supports our diverse community.

Commitment to the school’s Core Values, of Community, Growth, Excellence, Creativity, and Respect are imperative to the success of all Walnut Hill faculty, staff, and administration members. All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events, supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice.  

Physical Demands

Physical demands include dexterity for office machine and supply operation including but not limited to writing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, calculator, copy/fax machine, and printers. Stooping, bending, traveling to/from locations on campus, ascending/descending stairs, reaching and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common.

To Apply: Submit resume and cover letter through the Walnut Hill School for the Arts online Career Center.