Upper School Counselor

At a Glance:

Job Title: Upper School Counselor

Location: Friends School of Baltimore – Baltimore, MD 21210

Reports To: Upper School Principal

Position Type: Full Time Exempt

Friends School is a Quaker, co-educational, college preparatory school, Pre-K through Grade 12, in Baltimore City, enrolling 750 students, 45% of whom identify as children of color. We are guided by the Quaker ideals of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. We strive to be a purposefully inclusive community that reflects the racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, and religious diversity of our city and our region.

Educators at Friends are expected to model and foster the habits of mind we believe are essential to an outstanding education: creativity, curiosity, empathy, reflection, and resilience. We seek educators whose teaching styles and experiences demonstrate:

Position Overview:

• A desire to understand diverse attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and practices and to incorporate a culturally responsive lens into teaching and learning.
• A record of successful collaboration with colleagues, families, and students.
• A commitment to lifelong learning, and ongoing professional development.
• An ability to infuse technology to enhance student learning.
• An openness to interdisciplinary teaching.
• An appreciation for and understanding of the social and emotional development of students.
• Flexibility, optimism, and a sense of humor.

Context and Philosophy:

Friends School of Baltimore has an opening for an Upper School Counselor to begin in August 2026 (or earlier, depending on candidate's availability). The Counselor, as a member of the school's Health Team, is responsible for supporting the social and emotional needs of approximately 340 students in grades 9 through 12 in partnership and collaboration with the current Upper School Counselor. The Upper School Counselor provides direct mental health support to students and engages in prevention and intervention activities; offers mental health and wellness related support services to staff; and provides case consultation concerning students' mental health needs. The Counselor collaborates with and is supervised by the Director of Upper School Counseling (working under the direction of the Upper School Principal) and works with school administrators to support the social emotional needs of all students.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide short term, evidence-based counseling to individual students, and facilitate groups as needed.
• Serve as a resource and consultant on adolescent mental health for students and faculty.
• Support and complement the work of the Grade Level Deans, clerked by the Assistant Principal for Student Life.
• Plan and teach multiple sections of Friends Forum, our health curriculum in sexuality and healthy relationships for 9th grade and/or 10th grade students.
• Coordinate with families, school administrators, and the Health Team to develop plans of support for students in need, and connect to community health resources.
• Participate in and develop wellness education and prevention programs for: parents, students, and faculty.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from varied educational and cultural backgrounds; participate effectively in meetings and conferences; demonstrate effective liaison relationships with parents and community providers; provide effective services within a limited timeframe; conduct assessments; crisis intervention; develop, coordinate, and deliver relevant training to students, parents, and staff.
• Fulfill additional responsibilities as required by the Upper School.

Other Professional Responsibilities:

• Value and reflect the principles of Quaker education and the school's Teaching and Learning paradigm.
• Participate in the co-curricular or extra-curricular life of the school including clubs, coaching, special event planning, field trips, seminars, etc.
• Attend All-School Professional Days, Department meetings, and Upper School faculty meetings.
• Collaborate with colleagues departmentally, divisionally, and cross-divisionally.
• Help move the initiatives of the School forward by serving on committees and lending expertise and voice.
• Commit to professional learning around school-wide goals and initiatives

Qualifications:

• A master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology with a license to practice in the State of Maryland.
• Relevant experience providing counseling/therapy services to adolescents, ideally within a school setting.
• Knowledge of: current theories of development, trauma informed care, cognitive science, and social-emotional learning research and behavior change strategies; brief counseling techniques; crisis intervention; ability to assess and treat behavioral and education-based mental health needs of students, including mental health disorders and substance use disorders
• Strategic, creative, and imaginative thinker who weaves social-emotional learning into all aspects of the school
• Strong and effective communicator and team collaborator
• Exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities
• Firm knowledge of the ethical and legal responsibilities related to one's counseling practices
• Commitment to the school's mission, values, and vision
• Commitment to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Candidates should demonstrate a willingness to understand and incorporate Quaker Principles and Quaker education into their work.

Friends School of Baltimore offers a host of benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) match up to 6%, Legal Services, Pet Insurance and Life, AD&D, STD & LTD. Additional information on benefits can be provided upon request

Friends School of Baltimore actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in all programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, and hiring. To form a community which strives to reflect the world's diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends School of Baltimore is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of color and members of other underrepresented groups who might enrich and diversify the school community are strongly encouraged to apply.