Middle and Upper School Counselor and Health Teacher (23-24)
Bronx, NY /
Middle and Upper Schools – Counseling, Health, and Wellness Department /
Full Time
/ On-site
Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Riverdale seeks to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community-building that supports the school’s mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive-- especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. Riverdale enrolls about 1,200 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes. Approximately 44% of our student body identify as students of color.
We seek to employ people who engage in all aspects of work with a student-centered approach, an open mind, passion, and a willingness to support the greater community. At Riverdale we recognize that the work of DEIB is iterative and requires a consistent commitment. Ideal candidates display that commitment in their work and/or in their approach to teaching and learning.
Position Overview
Riverdale’s counseling department is seeking an experienced mental health counselor who is enthusiastic about supporting middle school students and teaching in the Health Education department. Though the position is focused in the Middle School, the counselor will also work with Upper School students individually and in groups as is warranted.
This full time faculty position is 60% counselor and 40% health teacher. The counselor will report to the Director of Counseling and Health Education and join a robust school counseling team with two full time counselors and a counselor/health course coordinator.
As a school counselor, they will support a caseload of individual students, advise deans and the division head, communicate with parents, provide resources to faculty, and facilitate student groups and other student programming, predominantly in grades 6-8.
As health faculty, they will teach multiple sections of health classes in grades 7, 8, and 9, collaborate on the development and facilitation of health programming for grades 6 and 10-12, and present at parent learning events.
Riverdale is an inclusive community dedicated to the principles of DEI; our hiring practices reflect this commitment and we seek collegial candidates eager to expand this work in the classroom, in our curricular work, and in the pedagogical principles of the department.
Necessary Requirements
- A Master’s degree or doctorate is required in school counseling, mental health counseling, social work, or clinical psychology.
- A NYS license as a clinician, social worker or psychologist or NYS certification as a school counselor is required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as a counselor in a school setting or working with adolescents in a clinical setting.
- Experience working with middle school students and planning and teaching lessons related to health and wellness.
- Knowledge of social-emotional learning competencies and frameworks.
- The ideal candidate will exhibit cultural competency and include as part of their practice and approach a commitment to centering inclusion and equity in their work with students and faculty.
Salary Range
- The salary range for this position is 75,000 to 95,000, based on education and experience.
To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us. For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the Careers page of Riverdale’s website.
Benefits of Full Time Work at Riverdale Country School
Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:
Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.
Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).
Sabbatical: Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.
Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.
Retirement: Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.
Vacation: Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.
