Friends’ Central School is an independent, coeducational Quaker day school founded in 1845 and serving approximately 881 students in Nursery through grade 12. Located in the Philadelphia suburbs, the School has two campuses. The Middle & Upper Schools are located just outside of West Philadelphia in Wynnewood, and the Lower School is on our Old Gulph Road campus in the heart of Wynnewood. The exceptional faculty at Friends’ Central offers a curriculum that cultivates the intellectual, spiritual, and ethical growth of our students. Our pedagogy is grounded in continuing revelation, reflection, integrity, and a willingness to accept responsibility. From Nursery to grade 12, our students participate in a process designed to foster creative, critical, and flexible thinking, along with compassion. As they transform from playful children to skilled, self-possessed teenagers, they are always intellectually curious and engaged thinkers. Friends’ Central prepares graduates to succeed in college and in life.
Middle School Counselor
Friends’ Central School seeks a full-time Middle School Counselor. This member of the FCS faculty will be responsible for designing and delivering programming for students, teachers and parents, meeting with students individually, and working with teachers and administrators to develop and implement structures that bolster student support. This position reports to the Middle School Principal and the Director of Student Services and serves on the Middle School Leadership Team. The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in the field of early adolescent development, have a deep understanding of the social and emotional needs of 11-to-14-year-old students, be committed to the School’s Quaker values and mission, and possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. They will also be an enthusiastic, dynamic, and innovative faculty member.
Responsibilities:
Manage a full caseload of Middle School students by serving as the primary school counselor for the division
Plan and deliver Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming for students, faculty and parents to support the overall health and wellness of the student body
Teach 7th and 8th grade health courses with a focus on healthy habits for the mind, body and spirit with topics including but not limited to decision-making, digital citizenship, gender and sexuality, and substance use.
Serve as an active member of Student Services (N-12) and the Middle School Leadership Team, attending and participating in weekly meetings to discuss students in need of support, following through on relevant action items, collaborating and consulting with relevant faculty, administration and families as needed
Offer consultation, insights and strategies to faculty regarding students’ social-emotional-behavioral needs with the Grade Level Teams as well as the Student Support Team
Offer classroom and advisory resources to faculty and staff addressing social-emotional-behavioral health
Provide guidance and support to parents and caregivers around child development and issues related to mental and physical health
Support students leading classes, facilitating small group meetings, and offering 1-1 support sessions as needed
Engage in professional development to enhance inclusive teaching and leadership practices.
Qualifications:
In addition to having a professional and educational background in , we are looking for candidates who also possess the following:
A graduate degree in counseling, social work, or psychology and preferably PDE certification as a K-12 school counselor
1-2 years of recent experience with early adolescence in a school setting
Excellent knowledge of child development, the latest education theories and practices, and current trends in education and professional development
Ability to relate well to Middle School students
Ability to relate to colleagues, parents and the wider community
Willingness to understand and be committed to the School’s Quaker values and mission
Ability to enhance the School’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity as outlined in our Diversity Statement (see below)
Ability to be an engaged member of the Friends’ Central faculty and wider community
Please apply here. The application will ask for a resume, cover letter and three professional references. All applications should be completed by November 30, 2024
Friends’ Central School seeks candidates with a commitment to fostering an inclusive learning community who will address issues of diversity, as well as enhance the Philosophy of Inclusivity and Awareness articulated in our Diversity Statement.
Friends’ Central School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory, Quaker day school, founded in 1845, serving 800 students in Nursery through grade 12. Located on two campuses in Wynnewood, Pa., Friends’ Central blends a rigorous curriculum with enduring Quaker principles of kindness, compassion, and generosity of spirit to create a solid foundation for a future of opportunity and success. Students at Friends’ Central School are taught to think critically and creatively, and they learn the value of good character and strong work ethic to develop into active and engaged citizens.
Friends’ Central seeks candidates who will enhance the philosophy of inclusivity and awareness articulated in our Diversity Statement.