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Job Description
The Community of St. James is currently looking to add a Counselor to our team! This is a great opportunity for counselors who are engaging, passionate and motivated to bring high quality social and emotional support and wellness to our school community, serving students grades 4 through 8. Those interested, please send a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements by July 15th, 2026, for consideration to hiring@stjamesphila.org.
Salary Expectations:
$65,000 -$75,000 per year based on experience About the Community of St.
James Mission Statement:
St. James is a faith-based educational community deeply rooted in transformative loving relationships.
Vision Statement:
A world without inequities.
Values Statement:
St. James… Believes … that every person is a child of God Recognizes … that every moment is an opportunity for learning Understands … the value of listening, discerning, and growing together Strives … to create disruptive change around educational, wealth, health, and other disparities Honors … the dignity of every human person Partners with … other advocates for social justice The School serves students and families who are most in need, providing a full scholarship to every student. Students benefit from small class sizes, an extended day, robust music programs, extensive social-emotional support, and 11-month school year (Sept. - July). The Graduate Support Program is a lifelong commitment to every child. It prepares students for future success and supports them along the way - through high school, college, careers, and beyond. The Welcome Table designs community actions and creates spaces for members of the school and broader community to access essential needs and experience a community of sharing. The Church of St. James the Less seeks to be a place to encounter God, build community and grow personally with weekly mass and worship services.
Learn more at:
www.stjamesphila.org Commitment to
Anti-Racism Education:
So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). St. James School is committed to partnering with others to dismantle systemic racism and to build an antiracist multicultural diversity within our school community and beyond. Through teaching a more complete and unbiased history, St. James School will arm students, graduates and employees with the tools and knowledge to better engage complex issues like systemic racism and privilege and to hopefully solve them rather than contributing to them. Position Overview The Counselor is a crucial member of the school's Wellness Team and works in collaboration with the Assistant Head of School for Student and Family Engagement and others to lead, supporting the Mission and Vision of the Community of St. James. The Counselor is responsible for ensuring that all students have access to social and emotional support and wellness, including those who are presenting complex emotional needs and/or who exhibit the need for social or emotional support. The counselor provides weekly individual 1-1 trauma informed cognitive based therapy (CBT) sessions for a caseload of students. The Counselor collaborates with teachers and other members of the instructional staff to support students and families, creating and nurturing a culture of belonging and success. Responsibilities Student/Family Social & Emotional Support Committed to the mission of St. James Conducts student observations, assists in creation of behavior plans and academic support plans in collaboration with the Head of School and Assistant Head of School, using recommendations from psychoeducational evaluations. Manages student attendance and communicates frequently with families of students with excessive absences and lates to set plans for improving attendance and addressing additional family/student issues Create and conduct student group sessions based on need. Teaches Skills classes (social-emotional skill building curriculum) or other content as needed Surveys and regularly meets with teaching staff to determine student needs and any other necessary classroom observation points. Conducts family meetings (in-person, at school, at student homes, and/or by phone). Communicates with teachers to merge CBT practices into the Social Skills curriculum. Keeps progress monitoring notes of counseling sessions in Jupiter. Works with members of Welcome Table to coordinate support (proactive) for student families. Creates programming for Wellness Week in July for grades 6,7,8. Leads a student accountability group (e.g. Student Reconciliation Committee) Leads up to four Enrichment sessions per week Attends up to four Saturday Academic Clinic sessions per year Serves as a member of the Wellness Center Team, meeting regularly to coordinate / drive programming and supports for students, families, and staff. Complies with the Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth in conformity with the guidelines and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Safeguarding God's Children Program of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Community of St. James Support Serves as a participant on multiple sub-committees: Guardians of St. James School Culture Committee Academic Interventions Requirements Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or Social Work. Masters Degree preferred. Prior experience as a Counselor in an educational setting Expertise in trauma informed cognitive based therapy (CBT). Excellent communication skills and organizational skills Ability to create multi-year plans, set objectives and achieve goals Committed to the mission of St. James. Strategic and innovative thinker Participates and collaborates as a team member Explores and confronts successes and struggles openly and honestly Approaches work at St. James in a formal and structured manner, while demonstrating compassion and flexibility Adaptability, honesty, self-reliance, teamwork, dependability, flexibility, willingness to listen and learn, work ethic, determination, persistence, problem-solving skills, loyalty, and congeniality are essential Proactive problem solving, both detail-oriented and flexible, demonstrating mature judgment and the ability to maintain confidentiality and composure under pressure Proficiency in managing multiple priorities strategically and under tight deadlines, while maintaining a high degree of accuracy Works in collaboration with members of the instructional team and other professionals on staff to provide a quality education for each student, to respect the dignity of every student, and to prepare students for academic rigor and social challenges of high school. Works with coaches and takes full advantage of professional development opportunities throughout the school year and summer. Maintains professional competence through in-service and off-campus professional development activities provided and supported by the school, and seeks out other resources for professional development. Attends and participates in staff orientation programs, faculty meetings and staff retreats, as needed. Performs all duties and responsibilities of the position in accordance with state and local laws, the rules and regulations of the St. James School and its authorized agents, and the policies and rules adopted by the constituted St. James School Required to attend school-wide events that may require some non-traditional work hours, including occasional nights and weekends. Events may include but are not limited to: Board Meet & Greet, Fall Staff Retreat, school holiday events, school masses/services, Baccalaureate, Commencement, Staff Retreats and all weekly Masses (majority of these are during the school day)
