Posted: 03-Jun-26
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Salary Details:
Required Education:
Gesher Jewish Day School is hiring for the 2026-2027 school year and seeking a guidance counselor to join our team!
We are a warm, PK-8 Jewish community school dedicated to nurturing a growth mindset and cultivating joy. A caring classroom environment, high standards, and hands-on learning experiences are hallmarks of Gesher JDS. We are located on a large wooded campus with a garden, hiking trails, a vernal pond, and a meadow.
The Counseling Program at Gesher Jewish Day School is closely connected to the school’s educational philosophy and is based on a responsive classroom model. We strive to foster a warm, supportive, and nurturing social-emotional environment in which each student’s character, resilience, and sense of self can grow, flourish, and thrive.
Position Currently Available:
Guidance Counselor
Salary Range: $65,000-$72,000. Salary range is commensurate with education, licensure, and level of experience. Full-time 10-month position with limited summer preparation work
Student Support & Counseling
- Provide social-emotional support to students in one-on-one and small group settings
- Meet individually with students for clinical assessment and provide short-term support
- Conduct classroom observations to support assessment and intervention planning
- Foster positive peer relationships and healthy social interactions among students
- Welcome and support new students and families as they integrate into the school community
- Work closely with the Head of School and Principal in situations involving abuse, self-harm, suicide concerns, or other student safety matters
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical standards
Social-Emotional Learning & Prevention
- Develop, lead, and implement social-emotional, health, and wellness curriculum
- Deliver age-appropriate classroom lessons focused on social-emotional learning and wellness
- Promote resilience, emotional regulation, and positive decision-making skills
- Support teachers, parents, and caregivers in fostering students’ social-emotional growth
Collaboration, Case Management & Student Support Team
- Serve as an active member of the school’s Student Support Team, partnering with administrators, learning specialists, teachers, related service providers, families, and outside professionals to support student success
- Participate in regular Student Support Team meetings to review student needs, monitor interventions, develop action plans, and coordinate support strategies
- Serve as a case manager for students requiring coordinated academic, social-emotional, or behavioral support, including ongoing communication with families, faculty, administration, and outside providers
- Develop student Learning Profiles for students in need using evaluations, teacher feedback, observations, and related student support documentation to inform support strategies
- Meet regularly with learning specialists and faculty to review student progress and determine appropriate interventions and supports
- Provide referrals and assist families in accessing therapeutic and community-based services
- Partner with teachers and administrators to develop strategies that support students both academically and socially
- Help ensure continuity of support services and clear communication among all stakeholders involved in a student’s care and progress
Faculty & Community Support
- Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on supporting students’ social-emotional needs
- Participate in student support meetings and multidisciplinary collaboration
- Help strengthen a positive, caring, and responsive school culture
Required
- Master's degree in School Counseling, Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
- Experience working with children and adolescents in a school or youth-serving setting.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with teachers, administrators, and families.
- Strong communication, organizational, and student support skills.
Preferred
- Virginia Pupil Personnel Services License with School Counselor PreK-12 Endorsement.
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or eligibility for licensure.
- Experience in an independent school setting.
- Experience supporting social-emotional learning, student wellness, and behavioral interventions.
- Experience working with elementary and middle school students.
