Details
Posted: 20-Jun-22
Location: Englewood, New Jersey
Type: Full Time
Required Education: 4 Year Degree
Salary: Commensurate with experience
2022–2023 School Year
The Elisabeth Morrow School seeks an experienced, collaborative professional to join our faculty as a Middle School Psychologist or Counselor for the 2022–2023 school year. This professional is responsible for the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students in grades 5–8 and collaborates with the learning specialists to lead the Middle School Child Study Team.
Our ideal candidate will find it hard to contain their enthusiasm for working with middle school students and supporting their social, emotional, behavioral, and academic growth. They will seek to collaborate with a team of like-minded colleagues and will enjoy developing programming that empowers students, faculty, and families to learn new skills. They will value a strong home-to-school partnership and have a deep appreciation for individualizing education to support students. Experience working in a school environment is a significant advantage.
Primary Responsibilities
Mission and Pedagogy
- Ensuring consistency between The Elisabeth Morrow School’s mission and delivery of the social-emotional learning (SEL) programming, and leading a Child Study Team that aligns with the mission of the school.
- Overseeing and/or supporting all programs that support the academic, emotional, social, and character development of EMS students, including SEL programming and classes, supporting advisory and assembly, and special events.
- Ensuring SEL programming is student-centered, developmentally appropriate, research-based, and aligned with the school’s philosophy and pedagogy.
Leadership
- Reinforcing and articulating the division’s programmatic goals, as defined by the division head and approved by the Head of School, in all interactions with faculty and staff, students, and families
- Being a visible presence within the school at arrival, dismissal, and at school events, and modeling the “4 C’s” — Courtesy, Consideration, Cooperation, Compassion
- Providing insights and strategies for supporting faculty with students’ social-emotional-behavioral concerns through consultation and observation
- Implementing a middle school SEL program, including training and supporting faculty in delivering programming
- Leading and/or participating in regular meetings with division and schoolwide faculty, staff, and administrators to discuss school matters including but not limited to students, program, and parent education
- Assisting with enforcement of safety and emergency protocols for students and staff, including supporting the division head with evacuations and head counts
- Notifying the division head and Head of School when a student presents as being source of harm to himself or others, and managing any response to such threats in collaboration with the division head and Head of School; sharing this information with the school nurse
- Leading the Child Study Team, including preparing agendas for and leading regular meetings, coordinating professional developing, discussing students of concern with administrators and faculty, interpreting and providing guidance on evaluations and related recommendations, and collaborating with the division heads to communicate with families
- Implementing and managing student support plans for students with a documented qualifying mental health condition
- Providing parent and family educational seminars on psychology, child development, SEL, and related topics regularly or as requested
- Being an active and engaged member of the Middle School Administrative Team, including attending and participating in meetings to discuss students; following through on relevant action items; collaborating and consulting with relevant faculty, administration, and families as needed; and supporting the division head in maintaining a safe, supportive, and effective learning environment
- Communicating purposefully, regularly, clearly, and appropriately with each school constituency (students, teachers, parents)
Curriculum & Teaching
- Articulating the goals of the school’s social-emotional learning programs as directed by and in collaboration with the division heads
- Designing and implementing a SEL program for middle school students that fosters the continuous social and emotional growth and learning
- Collaborating with the division head and/or other members of the faculty to develop and oversee behavior modification programs and strategies
- Supporting the implementation of identified programs by developing expertise in Responsive Classroom and advisory in order to support faculty in implementing such programs effectively
- Consulting with faculty on student issues and supporting positive classroom and school behaviors
- Providing responsive, short-term, 1:1 and small group counseling support students in grades 5–8 to help them with developmental and social-emotional needs including self-regulation and awareness, social problem solving, self-care, and stress management; this includes meeting with students as scheduled, supervising and supporting students who drop-in, keeping records of student meetings, and offering outside referrals when applicable
- Participating in all required internal and external professional training related to social development, counseling, and school psychology
- Providing professional development for faculty and staff on psychology, child development, SEL, neurodiversity, diverse learners, and related topics as requested
Admissions & Placement
- Participating in admissions events and student screenings, and consulting with the Admissions Team regarding a student’s appropriateness for the program as requested as needed
- Participating in Secondary School Placement events and providing counselor recommendations as requested as needed
Essential Qualifications
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in school counseling or clinical psychology
- Experience leading small group or 1:1 counseling or effective and engaging SEL classes
- Knowledge of and empathy for the social-emotional and developmental needs of pre-adolescent and adolescent students
- Experience with or an interest in helping students develop social and emotional skills
- Ability to connect with adolescents while maintaining appropriate boundaries
- Strong attention to detail, superior written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate complex student information in a respectful and clear manner
- A sense of humor, empathy, and humility
- Demonstrated cultural competency, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions; the candidates will understand and value different perspectives, interact competently and respectfully with cultures other than their own, and cultivate meaningful relationships with people that have different cultural frameworks
- Proficient with Google Meet, Zoom, and other digital collaboration platforms
- Because of our flexible classroom environment, the ability to lift up to 30 pounds and to move classroom furniture to suit their pedagogy
Schedule Requirements
- A minimum of standard business hours Monday–Friday
- Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends as necessary
Compensation and Benefits
This appointment for this full-time position will begin in July 2022. The compensation package will be competitive for the region and commensurate with experience, degree attainment, and the national independent school market. This position is eligible for our school’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes a strong tuition remission program.
How to apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume, with "Middle School Position" as the subject, to Eleni Siderias, Head of Middle School, at [email protected]
Who We Are
At The Elisabeth Morrow School, located 10 minutes from northern Manhattan in Englewood, N.J., children’s natural curiosity grows into a lifelong love of learning. Our exemplary curriculum features innovative programming in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), a nationally renowned instrumental music program, social-emotional learning, and community-wide core values.
Proud to be one of the most diverse independent schools in the country, we seek qualified candidates who will add to this legacy. We are committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to sex, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.
The Elisabeth Morrow School is a member of the Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). For more information, visit elisabethmorrow.org.
