Upper School Counselor

Position Summary

Newark Academy is seeking an Upper School Counselor to join a collaborative counseling team serving students in grades 9–12. This position is rooted in direct student support, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, family communication, and coordination with outside providers, with opportunities to contribute to broader preventative programming and school-wide wellness initiatives.

The Upper School counseling team currently includes one counselor, working in close collaboration with the Middle School counselor and a network of student support professionals across divisions. 

This is a 10-month, full-time position that begins in mid-August and concludes in mid-June. 

Reports to: Upper School Principal

Responsibilities:

Counseling & Student Support

• Provide individual and group counseling to Upper School students, utilizing evidence-based approaches (e.g., CBT, DBT, ACT, solution-focused) appropriate to a school setting.
• Serve as the primary clinical point of contact for assigned grade levels, building ongoing relationships with students, families, and faculty within those grades
• Conduct risk assessments, safety planning, and crisis intervention as needed; participate in rotating on-call coverage with counseling colleagues for urgent student support needs outside of regular school hours
• Coordinate with outside therapists, psychiatrists, and treatment providers to support continuity of care; maintain and develop a referral network of vetted mental health providers
• Communicate proactively with parents and guardians regarding student wellbeing, providing resources and guidance as appropriate
• Coordinate reentry planning for assigned students returning from medical or mental health leave, including communication with families, outside providers, and faculty
• Maintain accurate, confidential records, including counseling notes, gender support plans, and other documentation consistent with ethical and legal requirements
• Consult with faculty and administrators on student mental health concerns, offering practical guidance on classroom-level support and early identification of students in distress
• Collaborate regularly with counseling colleagues across divisions to ensure coordinated, developmentally informed student support from grades 6 through 12
• Collaborate with the Learning Specialist to review student neuropsychological evaluations and subsequent learning plans and interventions, help facilitate extended time requirements for assessments and standardized testing, provide assistance for overflow of extended time or when Learning Specialist is unavailable
• Work with the Upper School Principal, school nurses, class deans, Director of Student Life, Learning Specialist, Middle School Counselor, Upper School advisors, and Director of Equity and Belonging to communicate and coordinate academic, behavioral, personal, and interpersonal intervention strategies
• Participate in regular counseling team meetings, including dedicated time for case consultation, program planning, and professional collaboration

Preventative Programming and School Community Support

• Contribute to the development and delivery of preventative programming, which may include advisory content, parent education, faculty professional development, and student wellness initiatives
• Facilitate advisory sessions for assigned grades using collaboratively developed content, and provide feedback to strengthen programming based on clinical observations and student needs
• Support new student orientation and transition programming as needed
• Serve as an advisor within the Peer Leadership program, contributing clinical perspective to the training and support of senior peer leaders
• Facilitate psychoeducational or counseling groups for students as needs emerge (e.g., anxiety management, transitions, stress and coping)

Teaching

• Serve as a member of the Health Department and teach Health courses as assigned

 Requirements:

• Master’s degree in counseling, clinical mental health counseling, social work, or a closely related field. 
• Licensure-eligible or licensed in New Jersey (LAC, LPC, LCSW, or equivalent); school counseling certification a plus
• Experience providing direct counseling services to adolescents, with a strong foundation in evidence-based clinical practice
• Experience with crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning
• Familiarity with short-term, school-appropriate clinical models; ability to distinguish between school-based counseling and long-term therapy and to make appropriate referrals
• Deep understanding of adolescent development - social, emotional, cognitive, and physical - and the particular pressures facing students in high-achieving academic environments
• Experience working with and supporting neurodivergent students, including those with co-occurring mental health and learning needs
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; comfort collaborating with faculty, families, administrators, and outside providers
• Commitment to ethical practice consistent with ASCA, ACA, or NASW standards
• Sense of humor, genuine warmth, and joy in working with teenagers
• Knowledge of best practices in providing academic support for neurodivergent students with comorbid mental health diagnoses
• Deep understanding of child development (social, emotional, cognitive, physical) in middle and high school students
• Willingness to uphold ASCA ethical and professional standards 
• Meet or be eligible for the state certification/licensure standards for mental health, school counseling or other related field

Salary range $70,000 - $90,000. Salary is dependent on numerous factors, including but not limited to education and experience.

Benefits:

Including, but not limited to: Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, retirement, medical, dental, and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance as well as a variety of other benefits.

About Newark Academy
Located 35 miles from Manhattan in the town of Livingston, New Jersey, Newark Academy provides students in grades 6-12 with the knowledge and skills to become meaningful contributors to their communities and the wider world. Newark Academy cultivates a diverse school community and is committed to fostering and maintaining a caring and inclusive environment that thrives on intellectual, social-emotional, and relational interactions. Its faculty is highly regarded in the New Jersey independent school community for its especially effective combination of teaching that embraces rigor and compassion.