Career Center

Kindergarten-8th Grade School Counselor – Job Description

Who We Are

Sinai Akiba Academy is a preeminent private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. Sinai Akiba Academy is undergirded by our school mission to engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, and nurture a community of ethical, critical thinkers who, shaped by our evolving Jewish tradition, walk through the world with confidence and humility.

Position Summary

The SAA School Counselor provides social, behavioral, mental health and personal support to students in grades Kindergarten-8th grade. The counselor should be comfortable assisting students, parents, and faculty in solving social, emotional, and mental health concerns and facilitating student wellness. The Counselor will work to develop and implement school-wide, grade level, group, and individual social and emotional support programs, as well as provide resources for our school community.

The K-8 School Counselor will serve as a key member of the K-8th grade administrative and educational teams.  The counselor will participate in regular Administrative and Educational Leadership team meetings and Grade Level Faculty meetings and responsibilities and initiatives will be carried out in close collaboration with the General Studies Division Heads and student support services team. The counselor will participate in weekly team meetings engaging in student case consultation and program planning.

Essential duties include:

• Providing individual student consultation and short-term individual therapy, crisis intervention and group counseling.The primary responsibility of the Counselor is to provide social, emotional, and mental health support to K-8 SAA students utilizing individual and group treatment modalities. The counselor is responsible for the provision of these services with the highest degree of ethical standards.
• Serving as a resource for Faculty and Staff: The counselor will be an objective, available resource to the adults in the community, even though students are the counselor’s primary responsibility. The counselor will be available for consultation and student observation and provide faculty/staff with information on topics such as child development, group dynamics, conflict resolution, and social-emotional health and wellness and will offer in-service training as needed. The counselor will also consult with teachers on the interpretation of diagnostic testing, use of medications as well as advise faculty/staff regarding internal and external issues affecting the mental health of students (e.g., divorce, cliques and bullying, emergency aftermath, etc.).
• Assisting with creating and implementing the middle school advisory program, and supporting the implementation of the K-8th Grade SEL Program
• Partnering with teachers, specialists, families, and the academic and learning support team to create and manage IEP (Individualized Student Support Plan) implementation
• Maintaining Confidential Records: The counselor will be considered a professional resource. As such, the counselor shall exhibit professionalism through care in communicating, maintenance of objectivity, and discretion with regard to requirements for confidentiality. The counselor will adhere to established Ethical Standards of practice. The Counselor will also be expected to be able to maintain appropriate documentation and electronic records for students using the school database management software.
• Serving as a resource for Parents and Families: The counselor will work with the Division Heads and student support team on the development and implementation of parent/family education programs. The counselor will continue to develop and offer educational opportunities around student social, emotional, and mental health and well-being. The counselor will also serve as a resource for parents and families to support individual and grade-level student well-being and facilitate ongoing communication with families of students with social-emotional issues
• Acting as a liaison for outside mental, social, emotional, and behavioral health providers: The Counselor will maintain a robust referral network of providers and be prepared to recommend local resources (educational, psychological, crisis response) that might be helpful to families. The counselor will also follow-up on referrals, as appropriate, and function as a liaison between the professional or agency and the school community. The Counselor shall be familiar with mandated reporting and public law regarding child abuse and with appropriate procedures to be followed by the school should such cases come to the School’s attention.
• Reviewing and creation of Student Support Plans for students with social-emotional-mental health and wellness needs
• Attending of student conferences when appropriate

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a Master's Degree in School Counseling, Clinical/Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, or Clinical Social Work is required.
• Experience in a school setting working and engaging with young children, adolescents, educators, and parents
• Experience writing and working with IEPs (Individualized Student Support Plans)
• Highly collaborative
• Be a team player that will have a busy day while maintaining a level of positivity and calm
• High degree of interpersonal warmth and skill across a wide range of stakeholders in negotiating the nuances, complexities, and demands of a high-profile, fast-paced academic institution

Time: Full time

Salary band: $95,000-105,000

Interested candidates: Please email a cover letter and resume to Lauren Dolinka at ldolinka@sinaiakiba.org .

Sinai Akiba Academy is an equal opportunity employer and we comply with all applicable state and federal laws.

About Sinai Akiba Academy of Sinai Temple

Sinai Akiba Academy offers an outstanding general and Judaic-education that develops the mind, heart and soul. We engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, introducing students to a life of personal growth, sensitivity, responsibility and intellectual inquiry, shaped by Jewish practices and informed by a respect for diversity of thought. We have been educating students to light the future for nearly 50 years at our dynamic West L.A. campus. Sinai Akiba Academy values diversity of thought, perspective and experience in its employees and seeks to create a collaborative, enriching learning environment. We offer meaningful professional development opportunities throughout the year. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees which includes health, dental, a tax savings flexible spending account plan for out of pocket health and dependent care expenses; a 401k retirement plan with a generous employer contribution. Sinai Akiba Academy is an equal opportunity employer. It considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, or any other characteristics protected by applicable state or federal laws.

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