Director of School Counseling

Fountain Valley School is a co-ed, college-preparatory boarding/day school enrolling 230 students in grades 9-12. Founded in 1930, the School provides a rigorous, global curriculum in academics, arts, athletics and the outdoors in a diverse community to develop young adults who are courageous, open-minded, self-reliant, curious, and compassionate. This position reports directly to the dean of students. The goal of the director of school counseling is to provide informal and formal counseling support to students and to educate the student community about healthy coping and decision-making skills that will safeguard their well-being as they confront the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical challenges of adolescent growth. This opening is available immediately through the remainder of this school year as well as the 2021-2022 school year.

General Duties:

• Provide informal supportive counseling to students
• Provide formal scheduled counseling as a component of a comprehensive support plan for students seeing outside mental health professionals
• Evaluate and assess students in crisis or at-risk and follow with an appropriate response in collaboration with the administration
• Recommend and coordinate long-term support plan for students
• Procure the necessary releases from parents so that the School may work in a supportive partnership with the outside health provider
• Coordinate and manage a comprehensive support plan for individual students in close collaboration with the director of health center, parents, deans’ office, outside mental health care providers, and the school community
• Respond to student referrals by and follow-up with the reporting faculty member, parents, advisor and resident hall director
• Collaborate with the Learning Center, advisors, and parents to provides supportive counseling for students with learning-related difficulties
• Design and deliver wellness-oriented developmental curriculum and programming to students via our Student Life Curriculum, Advisory, and Residential Life program
• Educate faculty and parents about adolescent development and pathology
• Manage relationship with outside health providers and acts as the liaison between the outside health care provider and the School
• Undertake appropriate clinical and program consultation consistent with the guidelines of licensure, the School’s mission, and ASCA/CASCA standard

Other Duties:

• Teach one semester of our 9th-grade Chapter 1 program
• Manage the on-call counseling duty phone
• Collaborate with Admission Office during summer months to review new student applications
• Attend to all faculty meetings and health team meetings
• Participate in a class level retreat along with other faculty members
• Participate in committees as assigned
• Participate in co-leading an Interim trip (Spring experiential learning trip)

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work with individuals in a courteous and professional manner
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate in a team environment
• Detail-oriented, organized, self-motivated, self-directed and punctual
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple tasks at one time
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in LMS Blackbaud OnCampus and Google Educational Suite Apps preferred

Working Conditions: 

• Environment: office and indoor classroom working with some outdoor events
• Physical demands: able to sit and stand for at least 8 hours per day; must be able to lift 40 lb.
• Attendance at certain community events will be required
• Working relationships: students, parents, outside vendors, and all other employees 

Culture:

FVS’ Core Values are courage, open-mindedness, self-reliance, curiosity, and compassion. FVS supports a culture of communication and collaboration with the intent of creating an environment of predictability and support for our students, parents, and colleagues.  FVS employees celebrate diversity, participate fully in the school community, embrace the power of the prairie, the peaks, and the history of the School. FVS teaching faculty challenge students, create opportunities for learning and growth beyond the academic day, employ innovative teaching methods, and pursue professional and personal development through lifelong learning.

Mission:

Fountain Valley School of Colorado provides a rigorous, global curriculum in academics, arts, athletics and the outdoors in a diverse community to develop young adults who are courageous, open-minded, self-reliant, curious and compassionate.

Contact:

Send letter of application, resume and list of three professional references to:

Amanda Dedrick

Fountain Valley School of Colorado

Colorado Springs, CO 80911

fax 719.392.6138

E-mail: [email protected]