What are the responsibilities and job description for the Horizons at Episcopal Academy Lower School Guidance Counselor position at The Episcopal Academy?
Horizons at Episcopal Academy Lower School Guidance Counselor
The Position
Horizons at The Episcopal Academy seeks a dedicated and effective Lower School Guidance Counselor to support the social-emotional learning of students in grades K - 5. This summer position runs from June 22–July 30, 2026, and is ideal for a passionate, collaborative professional who fosters a joyful, inclusive, and academically enriching environment. The Guidance Counselor will lead programming, administer assessments, provide individualized and small-group instruction, share best practices, and enhance learning opportunities for students and staff. Horizons encourages staff to return for multiple summers to help strengthen the program and community.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, and deliver social-emotional lessons using a range of teaching methods.
- Conduct one-on-one and small-group sessions, tracking student progress and logging notes.
- Collaborate with Lead Teachers, teaching assistants, and volunteers to create a positive classroom environment.
- Use assessment data to inform instructional planning and provide evaluative feedback.
- Communicate student progress with the Executive Director and address family questions or concerns.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.
Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in education or a related field; CPR/AED certification required.
- Commitment to Horizons' mission and belief in its impact on student success.
- Ability to create and nurture a lifelong love of learning in children.
- Experience engaging students through hands-on, project-based, and non-traditional learning methods.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse populations, both independently and collaboratively.
- Organized, professional, self-disciplined, joyful, and caring, with a passion for teaching.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
About Horizons at Episcopal Academy
Horizons at Episcopal Academy (HEA) is a community-centered education program serving students from the Greater Philadelphia area. HEA advances educational equity through long-term partnerships with students, families, schools, and communities. Its core offering is a six-week summer enrichment program on Episcopal Academy's campus, complemented by a growing school-year program that includes tutoring, community service, and cultural programming. HEA is part of a national network of more than 70 Horizons programs across the country.
Horizons at Episcopal Academy's Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
HEA strives to create an inclusive, affirming, and welcoming environment that allows all team members to thrive. As an organization whose central purpose is to mitigate inequities in education, Horizons is strongly committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all forms, and we strongly denounce racism, sexism, and discrimination of any kind. Focus on EDI is central to Horizons National and our National Network, which actively engages in diverse and inclusive partnerships; representative councils and working groups; provides robust professional development opportunities; evaluates internal and external communications with an asset- based lens; and facilitates conversations across different communities to ensure that all Horizons voices are heard and represented.