Job Description

Position Summary 
The Pingry School seeks a compassionate and perceptive Lower School Counselor to support the social, emotional, and intellectual development of our K-5 student population. Serving as a key member of the Counseling and Academic Support Team (CAST), this individual will partner closely with school leadership, faculty, families, and students to create a positive, supportive, and nurturing environment. The ideal candidate has a thorough understanding of child development and uses this framework to proactively engage with students, foster emotional resilience, and cultivate a sense of belonging.

The Lower School Counselor participates in, designs, and implements developmentally appropriate individual, group, and Lower School programs that support students’ social-emotional learning, mental health, and overall well-being. This professional will serve as a trusted resource for students, families, faculty, and staff, skillfully navigating sometimes sensitive and complex issues while maintaining professional boundaries and standards of privacy and confidentiality. 

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator capable of serving as a collaborative and supportive team member. Initiative and flexibility are paramount as is a passion for partnering with teachers, families, and administrators to support the diverse experiences of students. This professional will play an active role on student support teams, helping to identify and articulate students' challenges, suggesting strategies, and offering interventions to ensure their success.

The Lower School Counselor will actively contribute to the well-being of the school community through this position, including facilitating programs as well as formal and informal conversations with students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling to K-5 students, addressing social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs in a nurturing and age-appropriate manner.
• Collaborate with the Counseling and Academic Support Team (CAST), school leadership, faculty, and families to develop and implement interventions and supports for students facing challenges.
• Partner with teachers to provide classroom-based strategies and interventions that promote well-being, self-regulation, and positive peer relationships.
• Lead and support Lower School students' social-emotional-behavioral development through programs and curriculum fostering resilience, self and social awareness, relationship skills, and healthy decision-making.
• Co-teach the “Decisions” curriculum (focused on social, emotional, behavioral learning) across grade levels with the Assistant Lower School Directors and Lower School CAST team.
• Proactively identify community trends and student needs, developing frameworks and programs to address these themes (e.g. self-advocacy, stress management, conflict resolution, etc.) 
• Maintain professional standards of privacy and confidentiality while communicating limits of those standards as required by school policy and applicable law.
• Facilitate education and communication with parents through individual meetings, group presentations, and workshops related to child development and well-being.   
• Participate in grade-level and student support team meetings to discuss and monitor student growth, needs, and concerns.
• Collaborate on student evaluations, referrals, and partnerships with outside mental health professionals.
• Support crisis intervention efforts and provide timely, compassionate responses to emerging issues that impact students, families, or the school community.
• Contribute to a positive school culture promoting empathy, understanding, respect, and belonging among students and adults.
• Eagerly engage in the school community by participating in assemblies, advising school programs or initiatives, attending events, and supporting student activities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, School Psychology, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of experience working with elementary-aged children (K-5) in a counseling role, preferably in a school setting.
• Proficiency in assessing student needs and developing individualized and group interventions.
• Direct experience counseling elementary school students and groups.
• A clear understanding of counseling in a school setting.
• Knowledge and facility with the integration of children’s social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and moral development.
• Experience facilitating curriculum and programs that teach and reinforce these developmental skills at appropriate age levels.
• Agency in supporting and developing community well-being through education, consultation, and role modeling.
• Experience managing crises, including intervention, consultation, and support. 
• Demonstrated skill in communicating, consulting, and collaborating in a school setting among different cohorts (e.g. team/department members, faculty, leadership, and parents).
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality in sensitive situations.
• Knowledge of current laws, professional practice, and ethics in behavioral health and school counseling. 
• Growth mindset with a commitment to ongoing professional learning and best practices in counseling and education.
• Flexibility, a positive outlook, and a child-centered approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
• Positive contributions to a social community, including participation in initiatives, events, and programs.
• Comfortable incorporating the latest technology for efficient systemic workflow, including Google Classroom, Seesaw, and Zoom.
• Skilled in navigating the Google Suite of applications (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, etc.)
• In addition to honor and character, commitment to intellectual engagement, and appreciation for stewardship and sustainability, especially important is the candidate’s ease with diverse constituencies and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive school community.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at .

About The Pingry School

The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,100 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on Facebook, X, and Instagram to discover why we love school.

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