Director of Secondary School Counseling

About Town School: Town School for Boys is a K-8 all-boys’ independent school located in San Francisco with approximately 415 students, of whom 50% come from self-identified families of color, and a faculty: student ratio of 1:6. Our diverse faculty and staff can be characterized by their warmth, collegiality, and dedication to our mission and values. At Town, learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated. For more information, please visit our Town Facts page, read about “Why a Boys’ School,” or learn about our community of belonging.

Position Description: Director of Secondary School Counseling

Town School for Boys, a K-8 Independent Day School located in San Francisco, is seeking applicants for the Director of Secondary School Counseling position for the 2026-27 school year.

Reports to: Head of Upper School

The Director of Secondary School Counseling serves as the primary guide and support person for 8th grade students and parents as they navigate the secondary school admissions process. The role is an administrative 10-month position and includes some teaching as part of the 8th grade Experiences program in the fall. The Counselor designs and facilitates a learning journey for parents and students alike to learn about schools, reflect and consider fit, complete the application process and help each boy find the “just right” school. To do this job well, the Counselor should enjoy time with students and parents alike, but be especially effective at developing strong relationships with 8th grade boys in order to serve as their advocate and authentic cheerleader in the admissions process. The Counselor partners with 8th grade teachers to complete recommendations and build a thorough understanding of their curricula and expectations. Strong relationships and rapport between the Counselor and 8th grade faculty are vital. The Counselor also develops and sustains strong relationships with secondary schools across the nation and notably hosts the largest boarding school fair on the West Coast each spring at Town School. In addition, the Counselor advocates with integrity for 8th grade students at the secondary schools and understands the complexity of the high school admissions process, including tuition assistance. In addition, the Counselor tracks, monitors, and presents longitudinal data regarding admission results, educational outcomes, and overall trends. Supporting families through the process also consists of hosting informational meetings, alumni and school sponsored events, and leading special events for the 8th grade class.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:
The Secondary School Counselor reports directly to the Head of School and is responsible for administering all aspects of the secondary school search and admissions process, including the following responsibilities:

• Introducing students and their parents to a wide array of secondary school options, including independent, religious, public, and boarding programs; educating students and their parents about high school options, the high school admissions process, trends, general procedures, and standardized testing; advising and supporting classes of 45-50 boys and their families as they go through the process; and helping students and families aspire realistically and choose wisely.
• Meeting with students, both individually and in groups, to guide them through various components of the secondary school admissions process. This includes conducting workshops and one-on-one sessions to ensure that students are prepared for campus visits, open houses, essays, interviews, standardized testing, and writing thank you notes. Working with students and their parents to help them determine a realistic list of schools and to consider their individual school choices when decisions are released.
• Conducting annual writing and interview workshops and meeting with students individually to support essay writing and interviewing skills. Setting up additional mock interviews with members of the professional community outside of the high school counseling office in order to give students authentic interview practice.
• Meeting with approximately 50+ admissions representatives who visit Town School for Boys each season and facilitating meetings between them and Town School for Boys students. Serving as a liaison between families and high school admissions offices throughout the year.
• Visiting local and boarding secondary schools on a regular basis to get to know admissions officers and heads of school and to become familiar with the variety of school programs throughout the country.
• Working with the 7th and 8th grade teachers to complete recommendations and with the Registrar to collate and submit academic records, including SSAT scores, transcripts, report cards, artifacts from their Town School for Boys years, and teacher/advisor/coach comments.
• Ensuring that each 8th grade student has access to SSAT prep, including advocating for financial resources for those students receiving financial assistance and arranging and/or managing the SSAT prep for those students. Speaking with tutors and tutoring companies on a regular basis in order to understand various SSAT prep options.
• Writing an official school recommendation for each 8th grade student, with input and oversight from the Upper School Head and Head of School. To be successful in this process, the high school counselor gathers information from parents, teachers, school records, co-curricular teachers and coaches, and the students themselves (through observation, personal meetings, and a formal written questionnaire). The Secondary School Admission Counselor also completes all checklists and principal/counselor report forms requested by the secondary schools, including any evaluations of students. The counselor is also responsible for managing and submitting all official school recommendations and official transcripts to schools through various online submission systems.
• Working with mathematics and English teachers to support recommendation writing and ensuring that teachers are ready to submit all forms on time. Reading all mathematics and English recommendations, reviewing all subject-specific checklists and forms, and providing any necessary feedback to teachers. Supporting recommendation submission where needed.
• Keeping parents informed through regular emails and a website with information about important events and deadlines, test dates, etc. Holding at least two advising conferences per family: one in the 7th grade spring and the other in the fall of 8th grade. Meeting with parents on the phone, online, or in person about school visits and perceptions, SSAT scores, and other needs throughout the season. Coordinating translators or other support for these meetings, as needed. Counseling students and families individually as they receive decisions in March and helping students evaluate their choices (including financial assistance packages where offered) when decisions are released.
• Advocating for students at each school to which he has applied – on the phone, via email, and in person. Monitoring preliminary and final admission decisions and longitudinal statistics, and making an annual report to the Board of Trustees.
• Designing and executing informational presentations in partnership with the Head of School, Upper School Head and Director of Admissions on an ongoing and as-needed basis. One presentation includes an introduction to the process to students/parents in the Spring of the 7th grade year. In addition, presentations are included in our Kindergarten and Upper School admissions tours. Moderate a panel of 8th grade boys for our Kindergarten Open House program.
• Tracking and understanding issues and trends in secondary school admission, financial assistance and standardized testing, as well as keeping informed about important changes in public, parochial, and independent day and boarding schools. Attending national and regional conferences to remain informed.
• Conducting an annual survey of recent Town School for Boys alumni (in partnership with the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation) to identify mathematics and language placement, leadership roles in high school, and other measures of success and happiness in high school.
• Maintaining an active and dynamic web presence for families on Town School for Boys’ password-protected intranet as well as for the greater community on Town School for Boys’ public website.
• Maintaining and disseminating information about standardized tests (SSAT), registering students for and administering several tests per season (one for 7th graders in the spring and two-to-three tests for 8th graders in the fall and winter), identifying and managing proctors for the test, and working with the Director of Learning Services to arrange for extended time and other accommodations, as warranted.
• Serving as a member and leader of the Bay Area Secondary School Counselors consortium, which works together to identify trends in admissions, establish best practices, and acting as a partner to the Bay Area Admission Directors consortium.
• Serving as a member of the school’s Director’s Group as a means of remaining closely connected to the K-8 educational program, contributing to the leadership of the school and developing school-wide relationships.
• Keeping the Head of School duly informed about all matters of significance throughout the admission process, seeking advice as needed and engaging the Head’s direct advocacy in special circumstances.
• Planning and hosting the San Francisco Boarding School Fair hosted on the first Sunday in May, with a social event the evening before. The Fair includes 100+ schools from across the country. The Director co-plans this event with Town’s Director of Special Events and develops it in partnership with placement directors from other local schools.
• Understanding and advocating for the strengths inherent to an all-boys experience, particularly that at Town School for Boys.
• Embodying in all ways the excellence, integrity and joy that Town School for Boys is known for, representing the school with pride and professionalism at all times.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described below. Necessary qualifications for the Director of Secondary School Counseling:

• include a master’s degree in education, business, counseling, or a related field of study
• independent school teaching, admissions and/or counseling experience
• superior oral and written communication skills; discretion
• an emotionally mature and warm presence; impeccable organizational skills, and the ability to meet deadlines.

Also important to success in the role are strong interpersonal skills, independent work ethic, ability to manage multiple projects and constituencies simultaneously. The Director of Secondary School Counseling plays an important role in helping each boy identify and articulate his strengths, navigate uncertain territory, express joy and disappointment, and find the best fit for his next school.

The ideal candidate should have the ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse and committed student and parent population; knowledge of a wide range of local and boarding secondary schools (i.e. their leadership, admission apertures, academic programs, co-curricular offerings, support structures, culture and feel, admission and financial assistance policies). The successful Secondary School Placement Counselor also has enthusiasm for the mission, values, and goals of Town School for Boys.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

Town School for Boys is an equal opportunity employer. Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with similar NAIS schools. Please see the employment section of our website for additional information.

Salary Information: At Town, salaries are one component of a compensation package that includes retirement matching, daily lunch, health & dental insurance, and life, AD & LTD insurance. The anticipated annual base salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for the position of Director of Secondary School Counseling is $120,000 to $150,000, depending on factors such as years of experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as part of any final offer.

TO APPLY
Please do not send materials directly elsewhere. Materials should include:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications, interest in the position and alignment with the responsibilities outlined.
• Resume that includes all employment and education information
• Completion of the online application form

Click here to apply for this position. To learn more about our faculty culture and community, please visit our Employment page.