Middle Years Counselor – Part-Time – 2025-26
Middle Years Counselor – Part-Time – 2025-26
School: High Meadows School
Available Position: Non-teaching Staff
Description:
High Meadows School in North Atlanta (Roswell), Georgia is accepting applications for an experienced, licensed, part-time (28 hours/week), 10-month position Middle Years’ School Counselor. This position may include some evening/weekend hours for parent meetings and/or student testing. The school takes pride in hiring dynamic, compassionate, and diverse faculty and staff who are among the finest in their areas of expertise.
School’s Mission Statement
The High Meadows community celebrates and perpetuates each individual’s quest for knowledge and skill, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural environment. We empower each to be a compassionate, responsible, and active global citizen.
School’s Vision Statement
High Meadows School and Camp inspires adventurous learners who ask questions that drive learning and seek sustainable solutions in collaboration with others. Our students emerge as ethical leaders with the skills and habits of mind to grow and adapt as they discover a place of purpose and joy in an ever-changing world.
Summary
Our faculty & staff are experienced, energetic, and collaborative individuals who follow a constructivist, progressive educational philosophy which is student-centered and holds kids to high and reasonable standards. Our tenets of progressive education include: (1) embracing the world, (2) hands-on and inquiry-driven learning, (3) holistic approach to educating children, (4) social justice and sustainability, and (5) transdisciplinary learning.
We look for faculty & staff who maintain excellent relationships with families, work successfully within a team, understand developmentally appropriate practices for students, recognize the educational value of the natural environment and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in their teaching practice. At High Meadows, we believe that children possess a drive for cognitive, physical, and social engagement—a drive that is developed and enhanced by an environment that promotes academic challenge, creativity, personal responsibility, and a positive self-image.
Position Description
The Middle Years’ School Counselor position begins July 30, 2025, and will help middle school students overcome problems that impede learning and social growth, and to personally and directly assist in preparing them to make positive life choices. The Middle Years’ School Counselor will also assist families and eighth grade students with transitioning into High School, including assisting families with high school applications, and high school advanced placement. Emphasis will be placed on working with students on an individual or small group basis in the solution of personal problems as related to peers, home and family, health, and emotional adjustment. He or she should be available to students to provide counseling that will lead to increased personal growth, self-understanding, as well as teach lessons as part of our SEL curriculum, with lessons about puberty and sexual health, and supports student service learning opportunities. As part of our Middle Years program, the Counselor may also be asked to chaperone overnight trips and retreats. Opportunities to teach elective Mini Courses is also available, if desired.
Requirements
The candidate must have a master’s degree in school counseling or be a licensed professional counselor specializing in adolescents. A minimum of five years of recent experience specifically as a Middle Years’ Counselor is required. Experience in an independent school is preferred.
Essential Duties and responsibilities
The Middle Years School Counselor will…
*lead the middle years’ school counseling program by collaborating with the Middle Years Principal to provide activities and resources to implement and evaluate the program.
*create a partnership with MY parents, especially 8th grade families, to connect middle years students’ class placements (math, Spanish) with advanced placements in high school.
*monitor high school advanced placement requirements, due dates for high school applications, private school testing dates, high school financial aid opportunities and share with 8th grade families.
*provide individual and group counseling services to meet the developmental, preventive, and remedial needs of students.
*consult with parents, teachers, school administrators, or social workers regarding student adjustment issues.
*participate in professional development workshops on identifying at-risk students and consult with students, parents, teachers, and other school and community personnel to assist in meeting the needs of students.
*facilitate the intervention team process.
*coordinate all counseling services for middle years students and assist with the coordination and implementation of student services in the school.
*plan and lead workshops/classes for students and families on psychological-educational topics, e.g., drug and alcohol prevention, anger management, study skills, social media guidelines and human reproduction.
*respond to school crises and emergency situations by collaborating with the Middle Years’ Principal.
*interpret test results and other student data and assist teachers with the educational placement of students by using appropriate educational assessment strategies.
*adhere to ethical standards of the counseling profession, and abides by the laws, policies, and procedures that govern the schools.
*participate in professional associations and upgrade professional knowledge and skills when needed.
The Middle Years’ School Counselor should have the ability to work both collaboratively and independently, have a commitment to developing the potential of students; and a willingness to be an active, involved member of the school, understanding and connecting with the school’s mission and vision. Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as a passion and energy for teaching and counseling children. Desire to play a meaningful role in each student’s daily school life and the life of the school. Ability to clearly communicate, collaborate, and work effectively. Ability to nurture and challenge each student. Model continuous learning, and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Understand academic, social, behavioral, and emotional development milestones of children. Understand positive discipline in a progressive educational setting.
The Campus
High Meadows School sits on 42 wooded acres in Roswell. The school is housed in several buildings spread across the two meadows on the property. We have an active barnyard on campus, serving as the home for horses, sheep, bunnies, and chickens. Faculty and staff must be comfortable traveling between buildings in all types of weather, participating in outdoor activities on the meadows and in the forest, and intermingling with animals.
Application Process
Please send a with a cover letter with educational philosophy, and resume to Jane Murphy, HR Manager, jmurphy@highmeadows.org. Once received, you'll receive a link to complete the HMS application.
No phone calls please. Only candidates who have the stated requirements may be contacted by the Hiring Committee via the Middle Years’ Principal; all others’ information will be kept on file.
Contact name: Jane Murphy
Contact email address: jmurphy@highmeadows.org