The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school.

After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with a double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, lower school, and middle school students under one roof.

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators but extends to the family community as a whole. It belongs to those who participate in it and is a more resilient and creative place because of it. 

We are seeking an experienced and passionate counselor to join our team. 

Responsibilities

• Teaches SEL  and health curriculum to learners in Preschool through 8th once a week (social-emotional curriculum, The Zones of Regulation,  Sanford and Harmony, and Health Smart.) 
• Provides group sessions for Kindergarten through 8th grade once a week 
• Works closely with Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School Division Heads
• Member of the School’s Student Services Team working closely with other specialists and across divisions
• Provide support for all families in sharing resources and making outside recommendations 
• Maintain paperwork for counseling services, including intake forms, consent forms, and teacher report forms 
• Coordinate with outside support providers for students (including therapists, psychiatrists, etc.) 
• Provide family communication
• Provide consultation and support services to teachers regarding students' socio-emotional needs
• Develop and coordinate the Health and Wellbeing Parent Workshop Series, including outreach to potential speakers/workshop facilitators 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Master of Social Work degree MSW specializing in grades K-8
• Ability to stay organized and effective despite a highly variable daily schedule
• Strong communication with leadership, parents, and staff regarding individual student needs

Weekly Pay: $1,100 - $1,400

Level: Temporary Full-Time position

Start Date: November 2024 (Tentative 4 month Agreement)

This Position reports directly to the Director of Student Services

Interested candidates are asked to send a cover letter and résumé to Evelyn Espinoza, Director of Human Resources, at evelyn@thecoopschool.org

The Co-op School is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, citizenship, national origin or ancestry, religion or religious practices, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic predisposition or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Our policy extends to all employment practices including but not limited to, hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, lay-offs, and termination.

About The Co-Op School

We are a progressive constructivist program that teaches to the individualities of every child and every unique classroom. The Co-op School models its curriculum based on these following beliefs: Joyful learning lays the foundation for lifelong learning and critical thinking. Creativity cannot exist without passion. Children learn best when they are invested in finding out the answers to their questions and when learning is embedded in meaningful contexts, which makes learning fun and engaging. It is important to us to educate the entire child on all levels: emotional, social, physical, and intellectual. Students work as a group and think as individuals, expressing feelings and contributing ideas peacefully and respectfully. Students will leave The Co-op School confident in their ability to effect change in the community and comfortable reflecting on ways to challenge and grow themselves. As creative problem solvers, each with unique viewpoints and learning styles, students will embrace the idea of a more equitable world. We strive to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity.

Connections working at The Co-Op School