Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a progressive, coed, academically-rigorous day and boarding school serving approximately 700 students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, integrity, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

2024 - 2025 Upper School Counselor

Summary: The Upper School (grades 9-12) seeks a dynamic and experienced school counselor to work collaboratively in support of the Upper School student body (~300 students, day and boarding). The Counselor reports to the Director of Counseling Services and is a member of the Student Resource Team. There are two counselors in the Upper School.

Counselors at SSFS are responsible for assessing and addressing students’ mental and emotional health concerns and supporting a learning environment that centers the social and emotional wellbeing of all our students. The Counselors work in partnership with all constituencies within the Upper School, including:

• Head and Assistant Head of Upper School

• Upper School Dean of Students

• Dean of Student Life

• School Nurses

• Learning Resource Collaborative faculty

• Director and Assistant Director of Institutional Equity, Justice, and Belonging

• Grade teams

• Boarding staff

• Teaching faculty

SSFS Counselors support parents by providing clear communication, therapy referrals, education, and guidance. They address students’ needs through one-on-one meetings and pro-social guidance. Counseling work with students is brief, goal-oriented, and solution-based. It is important to note that School counselors are employees of the School, not the families/students attending the School; in this way, the role differs from that of a counselor in private practice.

Responsibilities of Upper School Counselors also include:

• Teaching a Health and Wellness 9th Grade Seminar course. This includes ongoing curriculum development as new topics of importance arise.

• Planning Upper School education/assemblies/programs to address perennial issues that older adolescents face, as well as ad-hoc concerns that arise.

• The Counselors coordinate their schedules to ensure counselor availability and scheduled programming for day, evening, and some weekend activities and events as part of our boarding and day programs.

• Weekly evening presence in the boarding residence by each counselor is facilitated by one day a week with a 12:00 - 8:00 PM schedule.

Successful candidates will be flexible, organized, creative, and collaborative, with a sound psychological understanding of the development of adolescents, conflict resolution, and student and family support. SSFS seeks candidates who appreciate and support students who represent a broad range of learning variabilities, points of view, and cultural and social backgrounds, with a strong commitment to a progressive, dynamic, and diverse school community.

Required Qualifications: A Masters in School Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field with a focus on adolescent development and significant counseling experience, 2-years minimum. School counseling experience preferred; knowledge of and experience with the developmental, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of adolescents and how to address those within a school setting. Candidates should possess computer literacy and experience using Google Suite for both administrative and instructional purposes, familiarity with database systems, as well as strong interpersonal and written communication skills.

Further required qualifications include counseling experience in a student-centered environment; the ability to form trusting relationships with students, faculty, and families; consistent professionalism with and among all constituencies; and experience supporting students with a wide range of social-emotional and/or academic needs. Strong listening, oral, and written communication skills are essential.

Please note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination, which includes a bivalent dose of the vaccine given on or after 9/1/2022.

Desired Qualifications: Experience teaching adolescent health education, experience with international students, and knowledge of Quaker history and education.

Commitment to Diversity: Sandy Spring Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.

Physical Requirements: The ability to navigate stairs as part of daily routines; mobility around a large campus with uneven pavement; bending and squatting as required to participate in activities; lifting/carrying boxes up to 25 pounds; and the ability to maneuver as necessary within a regular classroom and office setting.