School Psychologist or Counselor, Grades K-8 (2022-2023)

Town School for Boys
School Psychologist or Counselor, Grades K-8
www.townschool.com

Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the Town School New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.

Position Description:

Town School for Boys seeks a School Psychologist or Counselor, Grades K-8 beginning in the 2022-23 school year. The School Psychologist or Counselor works closely and in collaboration with administration and faculty. Major decisions regarding student social-emotional needs and mental health are made in consultation with the Student Support Teams, Division Heads and/or Head of School.

Duties and Responsibilities of the job may include: 

• Partnering with teachers, parents, and administration to support the emotional well-being of students across the grades
• Leading friendship groups/social skills groups/discussion groups
• Helping parents, teachers and administrators with concerns about their students as well as designing interventions to support such needs
• Providing brief (short-term) social, emotional, and behavioral support for individual students as needed
• Collaborating and consulting with the division heads, teachers, other school personnel
• Communicating with and providing resources/education/training for parents (coffees, referrals, etc.)
• Monitoring students in classroom and play settings within the school environment
• Providing classroom observations with written feedback for teachers, administration, and parents
• Facilitating referrals to outside agencies/psychologists as needed
• Engaging in the life of the community such that students and faculty alike feel the warm presence and support of the school psychologist/counselor
• Participate as a member of the Student Support Teams comprised of the Division Heads, Learning Specialists, Lower School SEL Teacher, and School Psychologist/Counselor

Desired Qualifications and Skills include:

• Master’s Degree or PhD in Psychology, Social Work, School Counseling, or related field; current California state license in mental health services
• Five years of experience providing counseling services, ideally within a K-8 school or within a systemic framework
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to collaborate and work in a team environment
• Extensive knowledge of current developmental, cognitive science, and social and emotional learning research and strategies
• Specialized training in intervention programs
• Experience teaching in diverse learning communities
• Ability to think ahead and plan for effective one-on-one or small group support
• Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple priorities
• Commitment to the school’s mission, values, and vision
• Technical/computer skills as required for job performance

COVID Procedures

When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and Board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of faculty and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2021-22 school year is held in person with Covid protocols following the SF Department of Health Guidelines. As of March 2022, masks are optional at Town. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Town School for Boys Mission

At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.

Philosophy

As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.

Core Values

Respect: We respect ourselves and others.

• We treat others the way they want to be treated.
• We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.

Curiosity: We are curious.

• We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
• We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.

Belonging: We all belong.

• We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
• We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.

Integrity: We act with integrity.

• We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
• We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.

Joy: We are joyful.

• We make space for play, fun and laughter.
• We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.

Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.

We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.

Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:

Diversity, equity and inclusion are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.

A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.

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.

 

Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.

Application for this position can be found at https://town-school-for-boys.hiringthing.com/. To learn more about our faculty culture and community in general, please visit our Employment page.

Tagged as: K-6, Middle School