Middle School Counselor

The Nueva School•Hillsborough, CA

14h•$80,800 - $166,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Nueva School is seeking an experienced, empathetic, and trained mental health professional to serve as the School Counselor for grades 5-8, beginning July 1, 2026. The School Counselor plays a key role as a part of our student support team to promote and ensure the social, emotional, academic, and physical wellness of Nueva students. The School Counselor provides individual student guidance and counseling, develops programming, and supports faculty and staff professional development and parent education. The School Counselor serves as a trusted resource for the community and liaises with outside professionals and agencies when necessary. Each day at Nueva middle school is collaborative, dynamic, and grounded in meaningful relationships with students and colleagues. Your daily routine varies from day-to-day with such activities as middle school morning meetings on Zoom, whole grade-level meetings led by our deans, advisory, and supervision duties. As a member of the student support team, you participate in student support meetings where teachers, learning specialists, counselors, and administrators gather to share celebrations, concerns, and strategies in support of students. The middle school has created space on Fridays for special classes planned and facilitated by middle school teachers and support staff, including workshops to prepare students for our annual week-long trips, discussions of current events, Lit Club, and choice time at the end of the day. Fridays also feature assemblies, many of which are performances by our student musicians. These “Bonus Fridays” are tech-free, with students leaving their laptops at home. All middle school employees chaperone field trips and one annual week-long trip each year.

Requirements

Master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, psychology, human services, social work, or a related field
Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities simultaneously
Ability to manage competing demands and adapt to frequent or unexpected changes
Demonstrated commitment to ethical practice, including sound judgment, confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism
Alignment with the school’s mission and a commitment to supporting the academic, social, emotional, and extracurricular development of students
Minimum of 3 years of experience working in this capacity
Deep knowledge of current research and best practices in the field
An all-around "school person" who wants to participate in and contribute to our vibrant learning community

Nice To Haves

Licensure or certification in school counseling, psychology, or a related field
Experience working with middle school-aged students and their families
Experience with gifted learners and/or a demonstrated interest in learning about giftedness and neurodivergence (including twice-exceptional students)
Familiarity with independent school culture and environments

Responsibilities

Working collaboratively with school faculty and staff to identify students in need of counseling services
Managing student crisis situations and facilitating crisis response work with students, faculty, and families
Meeting with students in need on a short-term basis (one-on-one or in groups) to provide appropriate support during crisis situations and helping students develop coping strategies, resiliency, and communication skills through that work
Collaborating with faculty, deans, learning support specialists, and administration regarding students of concern and ensuring that appropriate support is provided
Making referrals to outside professionals for students needing ongoing counseling, therapy, psychological testing, etc
Acting as a proactive and responsive resource for students, parents, colleagues, and outside partners on emerging issues of emotional well-being in the community
Attending weekly student wellness meetings, student support team meetings, and “kid meetings” with teachers
Facilitating professional learning for faculty/staff and parent education
Actively participate in other aspects of the student experience and school functioning: chaperoning day-long and multiple-day trips and events, serving on committees, developing new programs at the school, and supervising students on additional duties
Supporting the Admissions team with prospective families