Job Description

JOB TITLE: Upper School Counselor - Spring Leave Replacement

REPORTS TO: Upper School Dean of Student Life

JOB STATUS: FLSA Status: Exempt .75 FTE or 1.0 FTE

ABOUT ATHENIAN

The Athenian School is an independent college preparatory boarding and day school that serves students in grades 6 - 12, from throughout the East Bay, California, the US and the world. Since our founding, we have been dedicated to educating students through experiential, collaborative and interdisciplinary learning. We foster critical thinking and value reasoned discourse and mutual respect. Please read through our site to learn more about our community. We look forward to meeting you as you consider Athenian!

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Athenian School seeks an Upper School Counselor whose primary focus is the social, emotional, and mental well-being of students in grades 9–12. This person will provide direct, culturally responsive counseling to students through individual and small group support, including crisis intervention, time-limited therapeutic services, and triage for outside referrals. The Counselor will serve as an integral member of the Student Support Team, collaborating with teachers, advisors, administrators, and families to promote student health, wellness, and academic success.

Key responsibilities include providing safety assessments and crisis response in accordance with school protocols; facilitating the academic accommodations process; developing and implementing safety plans; and offering ongoing case management for students navigating mental health challenges. The Counselor will also provide consultation and training for faculty and staff on topics such as suicide risk management, mandated reporting, and best practices in supporting adolescent wellness.

In addition to student-facing counseling, this role will deliver education on relevant social-emotional topics to students and adults, engage actively in the co-curricular and extracurricular life of the school, and maintain current knowledge of adolescent mental health, cultural competency, and laws governing confidentiality. The Counselor will keep the Division Head and Dean of Student Life apprised of sensitive and escalated issues and partner with other school counselors and administrators across divisions to support continuity of care.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Successful candidates will hold an advanced degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field, with licensure (or license-eligibility) in California strongly preferred. They will bring significant experience working with adolescents in a school or clinical setting, with demonstrated skill in crisis intervention, case management, and collaborative problem solving.

Candidates should have a deep understanding of adolescent development, mental health, and trauma-informed practice, along with a clear commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. They will demonstrate cultural competence and the ability to support students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work effectively with students, families, and colleagues in a compassionate and professional manner. Successful candidates will model flexibility, initiative, and a mission-aligned approach to student wellness, contributing to a supportive and connected Upper School community.

BENEFITS, COMPENSATION, PROFESSIONAL GROWTH & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Athenian provides excellent benefits and salaries are competitive and commensurate with work experience and education. Community members enjoy meals on campus and use of athletics facilities, including a pool, gym and fitness center. The annual full time salary basis for this role will range from $85,000 - $110,000 and will be prorated for the semester. 

All employees are expected to attend all-school functions relevant to their role and to participate in supporting the student experience with other school duties as requested by their direct supervisor. All employees participate in school wide professional development, and have the opportunity to pursue a range of additional professional growth opportunities. Athenian provides needed training for CPR/AED certification.
 

NON DISCRIMINATION COMMITMENT

The Athenian School is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all areas of employment. The School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic characteristic or genetic information, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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