Are you a passionate educator looking to make a real difference? Do you enjoy building meaningful relationships with students and colleagues? Are you looking for an opportunity to contribute to a strong, purposeful, and connected community?

The Siena School seeks a School Counselor and Student Life Coordinator for the 2025-26 school year. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative, innovative environment where students thrive through personalized learning and creative teaching approaches and adults are passionate about what they do.

About Us
The Siena School is one of the nation’s leading independent schools serving bright, college-bound students with mild to moderate language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia (www.thesienaschool.org).  We foster a student-centered environment that encourages creative expression, critical thinking, and individualized learning. At Siena, teachers and staff collaborate with students, families, and professionals to provide a nurturing yet challenging environment where students grow academically, socially, and personally. Through multisensory instruction, we empower students to develop the skills and confidence they need to become independent learners and engaged citizens.

Job Summary
The Siena School in Northern Virginia seeks a culturally competent, caring, and experienced individual to serve as the School Counselor and Student Life Coordinator. The ideal candidate will have a passion for school life and a strong understanding of how to support students and staff. This full-time, 10-month exempt position is integral to supporting the social-emotional well-being of all students while fostering a vibrant and inclusive school community. The person in this role will work closely with students, families, faculty, and staff to implement social-emotional learning initiatives, coordinate student life activities, and support the school's mission of academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Counseling Support

• Mental Wellness Liaison: Serve as the primary mental wellness resource for students, parents, teachers, administrators, and outside clinicians.
• Student Support and Crisis Intervention: Provide one-on-one counseling support to students on a situational or drop-in basis, with appropriate referrals for specialized support services as needed. Provide small-group student sessions on topics such as friendship, stress management, and mental wellness.. Respond to crises and provide necessary intervention and assessment to ensure the well-being of students.
• Faculty Support: Collaborate with faculty to develop strategies and offer observations for supporting students with social-emotional needs. Provide professional development on mental health and social-emotional well-being, supporting a healthy, inclusive school culture.
• Family Support and Parent Education: Work with outside therapists and clinicians to support individual students and families. Facilitate workshops and discussions for parents on student wellness, mental health, and coping strategies. Provide family information and resources, including monthly presentations with the MD campus counselor.
• Program Development and Curriculum Support: Design and implement school-wide programs addressing mental health topics, including social-emotional learning, executive functioning skills, anxiety, wellness, body image, and more. Time is set aside in the school schedule for weekly special programming. Coordinate health workshops for students focusing on topics such as drugs, alcohol, and sex education.

Student Life Coordination

• Field Trips & Student Activities: Organize and coordinate all aspects of field trips and activities, including service experiences
• Special Student Programming and Leadership: Organize and schedule semester-long club choices, service learning, and Wildcats Week workshops. Develop and coordinate special programming for Friday afternoon. Serve as advisor for two student government groups, supporting student leadership and development.
• Family and School Engagement: Organize and coordinate family events (e.g., Bring Your Family to School Day, Grandparents Day). Collaborate with the Director of DEI and Community Engagement and faculty liaisons with events and programs.

• Social and Special Events: Assist in planning and coordinating student social events (e.g., dances, prom, game nights) and other internal/external all-school student events. Work closely with faculty and staff to plan and execute all-school events (e.g., Spirit and  Kindness Weeks), including year-end activities and celebrations.

• Community Building and House Events: Plan and coordinate all House activities (all students and faculty are sorted into four houses). Take the lead in organizing school-wide events such as spirit weeks, house competitions, and themed celebrations. 

Additional Responsibilities

• School Culture & Climate: Support the school’s mission by promoting a positive, inclusive school climate through activities, counseling, and student engagement. Attend after-school events as needed
• Restorative Practices: Use a restorative justice lens to guide student behavior and ensure adherence to school expectations.
• Collaboration & Communication: Foster positive relationships with students, parents, faculty, and staff, and maintain clear and effective communication regarding events, student progress, and well-being. 
• Cross-Campus Support: Attend and contribute to regular campus and cross-campus meetings as needed, and participate in after-school events and family engagement activities.

Benefits: Benefits include comprehensive insurance (medical, dental, and vision coverage); short-term and long-term disability coverage, including optional life insurance; 401(K) retirement plan with employer contributions; paid leave including holidays, parental, bereavement, and sick leave; SmartBenefits (for Metro transportation); tuition remission for eligible employees; sponsored professional development; discounted facility rentals and free parking.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@thesienaschool.org. No phone inquiries, please.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Professional degree in Mental Health/Counseling or School Counseling.
• Active professional mental health license.
• Ability to maintain sensitive information in the strictest of confidence, exercising absolute discretion and professionalism.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, social-emotional learning needs and related curriculum resources.
• Experience working in a diverse environment and with various age groups (elementary through high school).
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students to create a positive and supportive school environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and events simultaneously. Experience in planning and executing student life activities and school events a plus.
• Commitment to social justice, community engagement, and student well-being.
• Creativity, flexibility, and a student-centered mindset.

Physical Requirements: Moderate physical work is required for this position, including frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and reaching. Must have the ability to lift, carry, push or pull equipment/boxes that weigh up to 10 pounds. Must be able to speak clearly and understand the speech of others.    

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification forms upon hire

About The Siena School

The Siena School has become a national leader in educating bright, college-bound students with mild to moderate language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. With three campuses in the Washington, DC, area, Siena serves grades 3-12 and has a strong national reputation and growing enrollment. Siena's Forest Glen (grades 5-12) and Satellite (grades 3-4) campuses are in Silver Spring, MD, and Siena's Northern Virginia (grades 3-12) campus is in Oakton, VA. The school enrolls approximately 36% students of color. Siena focuses on the professional development of its staff, who are regularly published and have presented at national and international conferences, including the NAIS Annual Conference. Siena is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Siena School is committed to equitable hiring practices, and enthusiastically encourages professionals of all backgrounds to apply.

Connections working at The Siena School