K-8 Counselor

Bentley School•Oakland, CA

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Bentley School is a K-12 co-educational, independent day school located on two campuses in Oakland (K-8) and Lafayette (9-12), California. Founded in 1920, Bentley School's legacy of excellence in teaching and learning maximizes student success in college and throughout their lives. Bentley is an inclusive community that shares a vision of academic achievement, balance, and the cultivation of character. Engaging in continual reflection, re-assessment, and pursuit of mission-driven pedagogical practices, Bentley faculty members maintain a growth mindset by observing and learning from each other and participating in robust professional development. Teachers are expected to align unequivocally with student growth and success, establishing pedagogical objectives that are consistent with students’ development, reflecting high expectations along with demonstrated flexibility based on student achievement. Beyond the classroom, Bentley faculty members participate meaningfully in aspects of student and campus life serving as role models of compassion, respect, justice, and inclusivity as citizens of the world. This position will be in person, primarily located at the Hiller Campus in Oakland, but will occasionally need to travel to the Lafayette campus.

Requirements

Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, School Psychology, or substantially related field.
Must possess a current license as Psy.D., Ph.D., MFT, PCC or MSW to practice in the State of California. Internship/Apprenticeship will not be considered.
Direct experience working with and supporting K-8 students and their families for at least 5 years, preferably with 2+ years of school counseling experience.
Knowledge of laws, regulations and ethical guidelines relating to delivery of mental health services in the school setting (by training, study or experience, e.g., Pupil Services Credential, MFT, PCC, PsyD, etc.).
Partnership approach to working with students, faculty, parents, administrators, and outside care providers.
Growth mindset, detail-oriented, and sense of humor.
Proven experience as a teacher and public speaker with children and adults.
Ability to effectively and diplomatically communicate in difficult situations and/or conversations, with students, parents, teachers, and administrators, ensuring student and community safety is paramount and that all involved parties are respected.

Nice To Haves

Previous counseling at an independent school is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Providing short-term counseling services to students seeking support.
Helping students to navigate typical developmental challenges and difficulties, and support growing maturity.
Providing crisis intervention, including assessment and clinical support.
Creating social support groups on campus for students in need of connection and social skill building, utilizing art therapy, play therapy, and other theoretical modalities.
Liaising with teachers grades 5-8 on puberty education.
Provide instruction to students as needed
Providing short-term counseling and follow-up support (case management) to families seeking support.
Providing outside counseling and mental health referrals as determined by the family’s need or counselor evaluation.
Assessing when students need ongoing psychotherapy or mental health services outside of school and collaborating with those outside providers.
Assisting parents either in an individual setting, small groups, or in a presentation to improve their understanding of K–8 students to better support the child’s experience in a school setting.
Serving as a consultant to faculty and administration regarding individual students and social-emotional issues.
Assisting faculty and staff in their understanding of K–8 students as a way of providing support for teaching.
Frequently liaising with the Learning Support Specialist to collaborate regarding care for students with combined social-emotional and learning differences/accommodation needs.
Identifying potential crises and trends before they arise and implementing programs and providing training to faculty/staff to address problems before they occur.
Consult and meet with others regarding student issues and clinical and legal matters pertaining to the mental health of students.
Work collaboratively with others to support effective education as it pertains to SEL, inclusivity/equity and service learning within the K-8 curriculum.
Meeting regularly with the Lower (K–5) and Middle School (6–8) Assistant Directors to keep them apprised of campus trends and students of concern.
Upholding legal and ethical obligations associated with the role of counselor in a school setting, specifically regarding confidentiality laws and mandatory reporting.
Staying up-to-date on legal trends and updates as they pertain and relate to the counseling of students.
Maintaining excellent organizational skills, including keeping accurate notes, records, and statistics of visits and services provided to Bentley’s standards.
Consulting with outside mental health providers as necessary to increase student functioning at school.
Engagement with the Advisory and Life Skills curriculums.
Participate in campus duties such as recess, traffic, and lunch time supervision.
Other duties as assigned by the K-8 Director or Head of School.