The Savannah Country Day School is seeking a Middle School Counselor to support the social and emotional well-being of 6th-8th grade students, serving a key role in fostering an atmosphere of emotional wellness among students.  The Middle School Counselor is an integral part of the Counseling Department and reports directly to the Director of Student Health and Wellbeing.  Listed below are the major job responsibilities of the Middle School Counselor (this list is not intended to be exhaustive):

• Meet regularly with Learning Specialists, the Assistant Head of Middle School, and the Head of Middle School to discuss issues concerning students and to review case studies, the status of students receiving tutoring, referrals for psycho-educational screenings and evaluations.
• Meet weekly with the Counseling Department to staff student cases and to research and implement programming for students and parents.
• Provide regular 1:1 counseling sessions with students, as needed.
• Facilitate student peer support groups on diverse family structures, divorce, grief, loss, etc., when necessary.
• Support faculty in their roles as advisors and teachers.
• Participate in grade level meetings.
• Conduct assessments of students and observe students in classrooms, as needed.
• Consult individually with teachers to discuss student needs and to implement an action plan to meet those needs.
• Meet with parents and participate in parent conferences, as needed.
• Maintain a current and accurate referral database of mental health service providers; connect parents with outside therapeutic referrals as needed; coordinate with outside providers working with students.
• Provide group counseling as needed, such as social skills/friendship groups and adolescent support groups.
• Maintain accurate notes regarding all students.
• Provide crisis management support.
• Provide parental support and guidance related to child development as needed.
• Teach an advisory course on grade-relevant topics to promote and support student progress.
• Provide educational programs and training for parents, faculty, and staff.
• Provide individual short-term counseling to students with identified emotional, social and/or behavioral difficulties.
• Assist with providing academic support, including organizational, goal setting, decision-making, study and test-taking skills.
• Teach character education classes that are on various topics of social-emotional development.
• Assist in administering and interpreting achievement, aptitude, and ERB tests and other student data.
• Serve as ERB testing coordinator for the Middle School.  This includes ordering testing materials, preparing packets for teachers, coordinating test administration and analysis, and serving as liaison between school and testing agencies.

Physical Demands
Work is typically performed in an office/classroom environment with intermittent sitting, standing, or walking in various settings.  The employee occasionally lifts or carries objects of a light-medium weight, up to 25 pounds.  Full range of hand and finger motion may be utilized for data entry purposes.

To Apply
To learn more about our school community, please visit our website:  www.savcds.org. To express interest in the position, candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Lisa Roethling, Director of Student Health and Wellbeing, lroethling@savcds.org.

About Us
Savannah Country Day traces its origins back to the 1905 founding of The Pape School, an institution long recognized for its academic excellence and college preparatory curriculum. Led by a group of visionary parents who saw the continued need for a first-rate college preparatory school in Savannah, the founders of Savannah Country Day built upon the assets of the Pape School and created a school with a recognized tradition of academic excellence across the southeast.  Today, Savannah Country Day School is Savannah's preeminent college preparatory school providing a rigorous, yet supportive learning environment for a wide variety of motivated learners. Enrolling over 1000 students ranging from infants to 12^th grade, SCDS is truly a family school.  Situated on a beautiful, 65-acre campus on the south side of historic Savannah, Georgia, SCDS has a 6:1 student to teacher ratio, an unparalleled arts program and a full range of athletic and extracurricular opportunities.  Significant funds are available for faculty professional development and our faculty average 21 years of experience with 85% of Upper School faculty holding advanced degrees.

Inclusion at Savannah Country Day School
The Savannah Country Day School is guided by the school’s mission statement which includes:

• that each student's life is enriched in a diverse community where differences among people are affirmed and celebrated.

• that the school shares with families the responsibility for fostering in each student strength of character, a sense of personal responsibility, and an attitude of faith, reverence, and tolerance.

SCDS seeks candidates of all cultures and backgrounds who embrace the school’s mission of diversity, are eager to engage in the work of inclusion and have a desire to join a community of diverse individuals who celebrate their similarities while also recognizing their individuality.  

Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate is a licensed mental health provider in the state of Georgia (LPC, LCSW, or LMFT) or license eligible in the state of Georgia. 
• Master's degree in Counseling or School Counseling is strongly preferred. 
• Experience working with adolescents in a school setting, with at least three (3) years of prior experience as a school counselor is strongly desired.
• Collaborative work ethic.
• Good sense of humor and warm demeanor.

About The Savannah Country Day School

Savannah Country Day School is an Early Childhood–Grade 12 co-educational day school of about 900 students. The school is one of the strongest in the Southeast. Our students go on from SCDS to excel at colleges all over the country. Founded in 1955, the school sits on a beautiful 65-acre campus with numerous classroom buildings, several playing fields, three gymnasiums, and two state-of-the-art libraries. The campus culture is informal and relaxed, but expectations of students are high in all areas. Besides a strong academic program, the school has very strong programs in the fine arts, athletics, and service learning.

Connections working at The Savannah Country Day School