School Counselor

School Counselor


REPORTS TO:                Head of Riviera Day School & Executive Director

INTERNAL TITLE:       Counselor

STATUS:                          Exempt/Salaried
DIRECT REPORTS:     No
 

About Riviera Schools

Our mission at Riviera Schools is to challenge, support, and inspire each student to achieve personal success, act with integrity, and serve others. In 1950, Riviera Day School was founded as a co-educational, independent day school with the highest educational ideals. Today, Riviera Day School serves students PK3 – 5th grade. In 2011, Riviera Preparatory School moved to a new, state-of-the-art facility on almost 14 acres located just minutes away from the original campus and now serves students in grades 6-12. Riviera is known throughout the community for its long tradition of educational excellence. While Riviera has established a reputation for excellence in academia and serves as a leader in education and in the community, Riviera may be even more well known for the learning environment it creates for the students. Riviera serves as an example of what education should be. It is about the people. It is about relationships. It is about making sure each student can feel and does feel special. Riviera provides an intimate and comfortable setting in which the students are both challenged and supported.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Well-being and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

 Role Overview

As an essential part of the school administrative team, the Counselor’s role is to guide students in the development of life competencies and to support their emotional wellbeing.

At Riviera, we believe that there are key life skills that all students need to thrive. These skills prepare them to adapt to a rapidly changing world, make informed decisions, and build meaningful relationships, setting a strong foundation for lifelong success and fulfilment.

These skills are broken into 5 broad categories and written in the form of student outcomes, as follows:

1. COGNITIVE: I can lead my own learning through creative problem solving, confident communication and organizing my time and resources.

1. SELF-LEADERSHIP: I can manage my emotions and identify my areas for growth, using my motivation and resilience to set goals and take steps to achieve them.

1. GLOBAL: I am curious about and respectful of different countries and cultures, and engage with local and global issues to take action for the wellbeing of people and planet.

1. INTERPERSONAL: I can build positive relationships with others and work effectively as part of a team to achieve common goals.

1. DIGITAL: I can use digital tools and technologies safely and responsibly to create, collaborate and innovate.

The Counselor will spend most of his/her time developing a school-wide blueprint for the instruction of life competencies and a school culture plan that outlines how students will be celebrated for their demonstration of the values, attitudes, and behaviors associated with these skills. Additionally, the Counselor will teach a weekly class to students in grades K-5 centered on the life competencies and will develop school-wide projects that foster a sense of community and positive school culture (Kindness Week, Bullying Prevention Month, Mindful Moments, Gratitude Walls, Culture Celebrations, etc.).

Responsibilities & Duties

Life Skills Curriculum Planning and Implementation

• Develops and implements a weekly life skills class to students in grades K-5 using evidence-based resources and reflecting the ISP Life Competencies.
• Works with the Head of School and Executive Director to develop an annual school calendar outlining the life skills and focus values for each month; ensures that this blueprint is known and shared across staff and that there is a collective plan in place to teach, model, and celebrate skills as students are practicing and acquiring them.
• At the request of the Head of School, organizes and facilitates workshops, seminars, and training sessions to enhance teachers' strategies, and classroom management skills.

School Culture

• Identifies opportunities for students and staff to build community and celebrate accomplishments on a routine basis.
• Builds fun and engaging opportunities to affirm students as they model the school’s core values.
• Develops spaces and opportunities to celebrate students for their unique identities, skills, talents, and cultures.

Group & Individual Student Support

• Works with school leaders to address areas of concern or areas of need specific to students’ social-emotional wellbeing on an individual or class level according to common need.
• Supports group conversations, and facilitates mediations amongst students, as needed.
• Supports individual students as needed.

Parent Partnership

• Collaborates with the Head of School, Executive Director, and Riviera Preparatory School Counselor to plan and implement a monthly Parent Workshop series focusing on topics that support school partnership, and the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of children.
• Upon request, joins parent conferences to share perspectives and insight on student experience, needs, and plans for improvement.
• Partners with parents to encourage healthy and supportive connections to the school community.
• Supports parents whose children may benefit from ongoing counseling support by connecting them with providers, and/or serving as a school liaison to coordinate support plans and/or progress monitoring.
• Works with the Riviera Prep Counselor and Executive Director to develop a parent education series of workshops to offer parents across campuses opportunities to learn and grow in their knowledge and skills on relevant topics.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Licensed Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor or School Psychologist with training and/or experience in child and adolescent development and adult learning.
• Masters’ Degree or equivalent, in counseling, psychology or related field.
• 2-4 years direct experience in counseling elementary aged children.
• Provides care that is culturally informed, developmentally appropriate, non-biased and responsive to local community needs.
• Utilizes research and empirically-based clinical approaches.
• Maintains high ethical standards regarding employee conduct and information sharing a dictated by law, school policies and procedures, and professional discipline.
• Maintains high standards regarding paperwork and recordkeeping.
• Possesses an unwavering belief in the potential of all students and a positive and proactive approach to his/her work in an educational setting.
• Proven organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Is goal-setter with boundless energy who goes “above and beyond” what is expected.
• Demonstrates poise, tact and diplomacy; Approachable, accessible and highly visible.
• Is a positive and enthusiastic consensus-builder.
• Demonstrates excellent listening skills.
• Has a secure sense of self that results in steady leadership; personally reflective and thoughtful.
• Ability to work in autonomy and adjust to changes.
• Proactive professional who strives for excellence.
• Ability to partner with parents, students, staff and external stakeholders in a collaborative, positive and proactive manner.
• Detail-oriented, collaborative, and a team player.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High level of discretion and professionalism in dealing with confidential information.

E-Verify Participation:
ISP U.S. participates in E-Verify and will provide the Federal Government with your form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

Riviera Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All employees are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

Riviera Schools is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of Riviera Schools through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.