Lower School Counselor for the 2026-2027 School Year. (Full-Time)

Scope:  

The Lower School Counselor will provide guidance and counseling services to primary grades from LE-1 through Fifth Grade to support the social and emotional health of students.  Working closely with the Lower School Director and other school counselors, the Lower School Counselor will develop and implement programs that help our students be effective students and citizens.  Responsibilities will be performed in a manner that is consistent with Cape Fear Academy’s mission, vision and values, maintaining a high level of professionalism and support of the school at all times.  

Major Responsibilities:

1. Primary focus is with LE1 - Fifth Grade. 
2. Develop and conduct in-class guidance lessons on topics such as friendship, respect, bullying, cooperation, tattling, respecting others, anger, healthy ways of dealing with feelings, and other social skills.  
3. Assist in handling any conflicts or social/emotional issues that may arise with LS student(s) – this may result in some individual work with a student regarding the issue at hand.
4. Establish various short-term small groups throughout the year geared toward addressing topics that are covered in guidance lessons (i.e. social skills, anger, friendship).  
5. Develop and implement individual or small group programs to support both student and faculty well-being.  Collaborate with teachers and parents to include recommendations for program participants.
6. Facilitate parenting workshops. Attend parent coffees.  
7. Facilitate professional development for faculty. Attend LS faculty meetings.
8. Serve on both the Crisis Management Team and Threat Assessment Team.
9. Provide assistance in crisis counseling grades LE-12th grade, as needed.
10. Collaborate with school counseling team on PK-12 comprehensive counseling program planning.   
11. Performs other projects and duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Counselor needs to be experienced and knowledgeable in all levels of Lower School counseling including child and adolescent psychology.  Counselor position requires excellent organizational skills and to maintain high levels of confidentiality. 

Education:

 Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Three or more years of school counseling experience, preferably at the Lower School level in an independent school.

• School leadership experience strongly preferred.

• Curriculum development and delivery experience strongly preferred.

Equivalency:

Directly related experience or a combination of directly related education and experience may be considered in place of the above requirements.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment:

• Ability to sit or stand for the majority of a normal workday.

• Must be able to use a computer and other office equipment effectively. 

• Must have close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

• Must have hearing sufficient to hear student and colleague vocalizations from across a classroom or outdoors.

• Mobility sufficient to navigate efficiently within our entire campus, including fields and other environments with uneven ground.

• Hearing sufficient to hear vocalizations from a distance and speech sufficient to instruct and interact indoors or outdoors with groups of students. 

• Must be able to speak clearly and loudly enough to be understood.

• Must be able to work in an environment with moderate noise level.

Salary and Benefits: We offer competitive compensation and a robust selection of benefits, including:

• Heavily subsidized Health Insurance for employees.

• Employer paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance.

• A full complement of voluntary group insurance plans (Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident, Hospital, Critical Illness and Voluntary Life Insurance for employees and families.)

• We offer professional support for student loan forgiveness programs, Employee Assistance Program and financial literacy resources.

• We support retirement contributions with a 6% match after one year of service.

Starting Date:    August 10, 2026 

To apply:

Please visit our website and click on “Apply Here” 

https://www.capefearacademy.org/about/employment

Or use the link below:

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/bad901c1-f066-460d-90a1-32df81fba70b/Cape-Fear-Academy