Lower School Counselor

Description

Oregon Episcopal School seeks a Lower School Counselor to begin duties in August 2026. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter addressed to Tracy Hardister (Director of Student Support) when submitting materials.

OUR MISSION : Oregon Episcopal School educates students to realize their power for good as engaged citizens of the world.

ABOUT US : Founded in 1869, Oregon Episcopal School today occupies a wooded 59 acre campus where 880 students in Pre-K through 12th Grade share an excellent faculty, an inquiry based curriculum, and a strong sense of community. The Upper School also includes a small boarding program of international and domestic students who live and learn together enhancing the vibrancy of the school community.

The School values employees who seek to continually develop the OES Essential Competencies in themselves and others and are prepared to engage in a vibrant, diverse learning community. Committed to the professional development of our faculty, teachers are guided by the Learning and Teaching at OES faculty growth model.

As an Episcopal school, we are rooted in a rhythm of gathering and reflection that values and respects all beliefs and cultures. As such, we educate toward a larger purpose - toward inclusion and respect, service and justice and commitment beyond ourselves.

JOB SUMMARY : The LS counselor provides counseling support for students and is an integral part of the LS culture. This position works closely with the LS Learning Support Specialist to meet student needs. To that end, the counselor collaborates with the LS Student Support Team, leadership, and faculty / staff, and partners with families. The counselor develops, leads, coordinates, and promotes initiatives and projects that benefit the LS and the larger OES community. A member of the all-school Student Support Team, this position is one of the two links that connect student support across the Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools. The LS counselor is essential in fulfilling the program's mission.

The all-school OES Student Support Team works alongside teachers, students, and parents to create inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environments where students can grow, learn, and thrive. We emphasize our students' strengths while empowering them to be capable learners who take risks, self-monitor, self-advocate, and develop resiliency. Operating from a holistic perspective, we recognize that a positive and successful educational experience ensures that a student's academic, social, and emotional needs are met. Through thoughtful collaboration and planning, the OES Student Support Team honors individual learning styles and differences, embracing a diverse learning community. The OES Student Support Team is composed of the Director of Student Support along with a Learning Support Specialist and a School Counselor for each Division.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES :

• Promote and facilitate the development of social-emotional competencies through program development, teacher / staff collaboration, and classroom learning opportunities.
• Provide direct counseling services to LS students through small groups and short-term 1 : 1 support.
• Nurture the development of mindfulness, mental health, and regulation strategies throughout the LS.
• Work in partnership with the LS Student Support Team to develop plans and systems to remove barriers to students' academic success and to promote personal growth, health, and wellbeing.
• Provide responsive student services, including school-based mental health risk assessments.
• Provide information, consultation, and support for LS faculty and staff.
• Work with LS colleagues to coordinate efforts on behalf of individual students.
• Lead initiatives that support students who represent diversity in our community and foster understanding, inclusion, and acceptance.
• Facilitate smooth transitions for students and their families into the Lower School, between grades, and into the Middle School.
• Provide parents with information, support, and referrals as needed.
• Develop positive working relationships with community-based professionals in order to facilitate referrals, educational planning, and ongoing monitoring of student progress.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

backgrounds and identities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :