Lower School Counselor

About Davidson Day

Davidson Day School is a diverse independent school serving approximately 545 students from age 2 through 12th grade, where we empower students to embrace challenge, live with character, and lead with purpose. We are a community grounded in the values of Courage, Ownership, Resilience, and Empathy. Learn more at .

Position Summary

The Lower School Counselor supports the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of students from the Early Childhood program (age 2) through Grade 4. As a key member of the student support and wellness team, the Counselor provides short-term counseling, guidance, and proactive programming to help create a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment. The Counselor partners closely with faculty, administrators, and families to promote healthy development, enhance social-emotional learning, and ensure each child is known, valued, and supported within the Davidson Day community.

The ideal candidate is energetic, student-centered, and proactive. This role requires taking initiative in developing programs, collaborating with teachers, and offering practical guidance to support student behavior and parent partnership. The Counselor will contribute new ideas and strengthen schoolwide social-emotional learning practices.

Essential Functions

• Offer comprehensive wellness and prevention programming to create a safe and supportive school environment by being a student advocate, promoting belonging and fostering student self-awareness, emotional regulation, self-management, problem-solving, social skills, and decision-making for K-12 students
• Lead small groups of students age 2 through Grade 4 to support personal, behavioral, and academic growth
• Prepare and teach weekly classroom guidance lessons aligned with CASEL competencies and provide grades and comments on student report cards
• Provide responsive services such as short-term, solution-focused individual counseling, hold restorative circles between peers, and crisis interventions as needed
• Design and deliver Morning Meeting Messages (Equivalent of Advisory) to include Wellness Wednesdays and Character Education to enhance the Lower School community
• Actively collaborate and consult with parents, faculty, administrators, stakeholders, and outside professionals to develop and implement comprehensive student support plans
• Coordinate parent education opportunities and facilitate meetings to address topics related to child development, mental health, and effective parenting strategies
• Serve as an active member of the Student Support Team, Wellness Committee, and other grade-level and divisional meetings to provide leadership, collaboration, and guidance on student well-being
• Maintain accurate and confidential student wellness and support records in the AUGUST School System in accordance with applicable laws, ethical standards, and school policies, including communicating appropriate limits of confidentiality
• Engage in ongoing professional development to remain current in clinical knowledge, counseling practices, and trends in school-based mental health
• Provide professional development and/or recruit experts to offer professional development for teachers and parents
• Remain informed about current state laws related to child protection and advise school leadership on appropriate reporting procedures for child abuse or neglect
• Comply with all Davidson Day School policies, procedures, and ethical standards

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in counseling, clinical psychology, social work, or related field
• Demonstrated experience providing counseling to children using a range of evidence-based approaches and modalities
• Proven ability to design and implement mental health and wellness programs that support student development and well-being
• Experience working with early childhood or elementary-aged students in a school or educational setting

Preferred:

• National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• North Carolina licensure such as LCSW or LCMHC (helpful but not required for this non-clinical role)
• Experience supporting neurodiversity, cultural and linguistic diversity, and trauma-informed practices
• Background in implementing MTSS, SEL, or restorative practices

Equal Employment Opportunity

Davidson Day School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• How many years of experience do you have working with children aged 2-10?
• How many years of experience do you have working in a school setting?

Ability to Relocate:

• Davidson, NC 28036: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person