Poly Prep seeks applicants for the position of Upper School Counselor/Psychologist for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Upper School Counselor/Psychologist supports students in attaining social, emotional, and physical well-being through providing culturally responsive, student-centered care, education, and support. The Upper School Counselor/Psychologist has expertise in connecting with teens and their families around the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. The Upper School Counselor/Psychologist provides one-on-one and small group counseling, teaches classes, and collaborates with administrators around individual student needs and division-wide planning. The Upper School Counselor/Psychologist is committed to health equity and working creatively to reduce stigma and barriers around student access to mental health support.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide individual short-term supportive counseling and referrals to students aged 14-18 years old.
• Provide crisis intervention and trauma support to individual students; participate in planning division-wide response to crisis or traumatic events.
• Lead small group counseling sessions to support students in developing healthy coping strategies to deal with the stresses of life or in response to crisis or traumatic events.
• Communicate with parents and outside treatment providers about mental health needs of individual students.
• Collaborate with administration, deans, learning specialists, teachers, and the health team on individual student plans and on programming that supports the overall mental health of students.
• Hosts talks and workshops about parenting, various mental health issues, and child development topics.
• Maintain student records, including but not limited to, meeting notes, confidential records, and support services documentation.
• Collaborate to create systems to monitor mental health needs of Upper School students, track trends and monitor mental health outcomes with an attention to racial equity and eliminating disparities within our student population.
• Support positive discipline and restorative justice processes as needed. Demonstrate active engagement with student life across activities.
• Advise a student club as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduate degree (Ph.D.; Psy.D., LCSW) in psychology, social work, or counseling.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years prior clinical experience with adolescents, preferably in a school setting. Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse population of students to administer culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate support. Experience with neuropsychological testing and children with learning differences.

Specific Skills: Strong diagnostic and clinical skills. Excellent writing, verbal communication and listening skills. Exceptionally well-organized with proficiency using electronic medical records and Excel/ Google Sheets. Positive attitude, collegiality and ability to problem solve.

Certifications/Licenses: NYS license in Clinical Social Work, School, Counseling, or Clinical Psychology preferred.

Requirement: All employees must be fully vaccinated and show proof of their full COVID 19 vaccination.

Salary Range: $75,710 - $98,915

Poly Prep strives to be an equitable, just, and diverse community, one proud of and deeply committed to empowering students to discover who they are and what they want to be. In keeping with the country day school philosophy, we seek community members who will share a passion for learning in and out of the classroom. 

We offer a supportive environment, with a full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a generous match on our 403(b) retirement plan, long-term disability, flexible spending account, pre-tax commute benefit, and free lunch).   

How to Apply: Click [Apply for this position] to submit your resume, cover letter, and specific evidence of qualifications to Dalia Gold, Clinical Director of School Counseling.

Poly Prep is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.