Job Description:
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
2026-2027 Academic Year
St. Mary Catholic School, Ridgefield

Overall Responsibility:
The School Counselor provides a range of services to students who need additional academic, social and emotional support. The School Counselor partners with school administrators and teachers to develop and implement plans that provide high quality and specialized support for students in need with the goal of ensuring that all students flourish and succeed. All services are provided in a ministerial capacity and in accordance with the Catholic faith.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide individual and group counseling sessions to students.
- Assess student needs and develop personalized counseling plans.
- Collaborate with teachers, parents and administrators to address academic and social/emotional needs of students.
- Conduct classroom lessons, appropriate for each grade level and address relevant topics to support positive social/emotional development.
- Educate/counsel students on topics such as conflict resolution, social skills, and executive functioning abilities.
- Conduct behavioral health assessments and collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop and implement effective and appropriate
  interventions.
- Assist students in developing effective coping skills and problem solving skills.
- Offer parents feedback and provide them with the tools to support healthy child development. Part of this is accomplished with a monthly
   newsletter submission to
  parents and families on a range of topics, which impact children's social/emotional functioning.
- Collaborate with administrators, teachers and parents to support students with special education needs by providing counseling services and
  referring students for Special
   Education Evaluation (Testing) through the LEA.
- Maintain special education files, student support plans and coordinate student support team meetings with teachers, administrators and parents.
- Maintain accurate case files and reports to track students progress and performance.
- Collaborate with community agencies and resources to support child welfare and the well-being of students.

Education/Qualifications/Skills:
- Bachelors or Masters degrees in School Counseling, Family Therapy, School Psychology, Social Work or other related fields.
- Minimum two years’ experience providing counseling services to students in an educational setting.
- Knowledge of behavior management and classroom management techniques.
- Compassionate, approachable and professional demeanor.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to maintain a high level of discretion and handle details of a confidential nature.
- Ability to complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner, requiring minimal oversight.
- Ability to work under pressure and effectively manage multiple priorities.
- Excellent writing, proofing and editing skills.
- Solid problem solving and time management skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both in person and virtually.
- Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact and collaborate with diverse groups of people.
- A strong work ethic.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE CT REAP APPLICATION, INCLUDE AN UPDATED RESUME, COVER LETTER AND THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.  SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION TO:  ambrosior@smsridgefield.org.