Wellness and Academic Counselor

Job Details: Job Location: Salem Academy and College - Winston Salem, NC, Salary Range: Undisclosed, About Salem Academy and College

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country.  Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 254-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem Academy is a boarding and day college preparatory school with a focus on interdisciplinary learning using STEAM, wellness and leadership. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders. 

Position Summary

Salem Academy seeks a dedicated and student-centered Wellness & Academic Counselor to support the academic, social-emotional, and overall well-being of Academy students.

The Wellness & Academic Counselor serves as a primary resource for students experiencing mental health, social-emotional, personal, academic, organizational, or adjustment concerns that may affect their ability to thrive at Salem Academy. The counselor serves as a key liaison between the Academy, families, campus partners and outside providers to promote continuity of care and ensure students have appropriate mental health and academic support both in and outside of school.

In addition to its core counseling duties, the position provides individualized academic support to students who may benefit from assistance with organization, executive functioning, study strategies, time management, self-advocacy, and understanding themselves as learners. The counselor collaborates with Academy administration, faculty and staff to identify students who may need additional academic support and to develop coordinated strategies for student success.

Salem Academy and College maintains an Institutional Director of Accessibility Services serving both Salem Academy and Salem College students. That role retains primary responsibility for creating formal accommodation plans and initial family meetings related to accommodations. 

The Wellness & Academic Counselor contributes to the Academy's broader Wellness & Leadership mission through proactive wellness initiatives, student support programming, and collaboration with Academy administration, faculty & staff.

This position is designed as the Academy’s first point of contact for students experiencing mental health, social-emotional, or adjustment concerns. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Student Mental Health & Counseling

The Wellness & Academic Counselor will maintain a strong and visible counseling presence within the Academy and serve as a primary resource for student mental health and social-emotional concerns.

Identify student needs and coordinate appropriate care for students experiencing social-emotional, mental health, personal, academic, or adjustment concerns.
Provide crisis response and initial risk assessment in accordance with school protocols, professional standards, and ethical requirements.
Advocate for student well-being and help identify and reduce barriers to learning and participation.
Support students in developing coping strategies, self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, and appropriate help-seeking behaviors.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and recognize when a student's needs require outside or specialized clinical care.
Maintain accurate and confidential counseling documentation in accordance with FERPA, professional standards, and school policy.
Participate in student support meetings and contribute a mental health perspective to coordinated student support planning.

Mental Health Coordination & Family Partnership

The Wellness & Academic Counselor serves as a primary school liaison for coordinating student mental health support among the student, family, Academy, and outside providers.

Serve as a primary point of contact for families regarding significant student mental health and social-emotional concerns.
Establish collaborative relationships with parents and guardians while maintaining appropriate student confidentiality.
Coordinate communication among students, families, school personnel, and outside counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health providers, with appropriate permissions and releases.
Collaborate with outside providers, when appropriate, to understand recommendations that may affect a student's school experience and assist in translating those recommendations into appropriate school-based supports.
Maintain appropriate documentation of communication and support plans while protecting student confidentiality.

Academic & Learning Support

The Wellness & Academic Counselor provides individualized academic support for students whose academic success may be improved through direct coaching, skill development, and increased self-awareness as learners.

Provide academic coaching related to:

Organization
Time management
Executive functioning
Study strategies
Test preparation

Help students develop individualized strategies for managing the academic demands of a college-preparatory environment.
Support students in developing self-advocacy skills and communicating appropriately with teachers and other members of their support team.
Collaborate with advisors and faculty when students demonstrate patterns of academic difficulty that may benefit from additional intervention.
Review relevant academic information and student progress, when appropriate, to identify students who may need additional support.
Collaborate with the Institutional Director of Accessibility Services when a student's academic needs may intersect with formal accommodations or learning differences.

Refer students who may benefit from an evaluation for accommodations or additional learning support to the Institutional Director of Accessibility Services.

This position does not independently develop, approve, or manage formal accommodation plans.

Wellness & Prevention Programming

The Wellness & Academic  Counselor contributes to the Academy's broader Wellness & Leadership focus and supports a proactive approach to student mental health.

Collaborate with the Dean of Students and Wellness Committee on schoolwide wellness initiatives.
Identify emerging student wellness needs and recommend appropriate programming or interventions.
Conduct regular check ins with students that utilize services related to wellness & academic support
Assist with faculty and staff professional development related to recognizing student mental health concerns and responding to students in distress.
Promote a school culture in which seeking help is normalized and students understand how to access support.
Teach wellness course programming such as study skills and social-emotional learning curriculum.

Program Evaluation & Professional Practice

Maintain accurate and confidential records related to counseling and student support services.
Remain current on best practices in school counseling, adolescent mental health, learning support, executive functioning, and student wellness.
Participate in professional development relevant to the position.
Maintain appropriate professional licensure or certification.
Participate in committees, school activities, and community events as appropriate to the position.
Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned by the Dean of Students or Head of School.

 
Qualifications: Required Qualifications

Master's degree in School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
Licensure or certification as a School Counselor or equivalent credential appropriate for school-based counseling.
Experience providing counseling, student support, or related services in a school or youth-serving environment.
Knowledge of adolescent development and school-based mental health practices.
Strong understanding of academic support strategies, executive functioning, and student self-advocacy.
Strong communication, collaboration, organization, and crisis-response skills.
Ability to establish trusting relationships with adolescents and their families.
Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

Three or more years of experience working with high school students.
Experience working in a boarding or residential school environment.
Experience coordinating with outside mental health providers and community resources.
Experience supporting students with learning differences or executive functioning 

Physical Functions

While performing the responsibilities of the Wellness and Academic Counselor, the employee is required to sit for varying lengths of time; bend, reach, lift, push, and pull up to 25 pounds; occasionally stand, walk, and kneel and regularly ascend/descend stairs; use hands and fingers to handle or feel and manipulate keys on a keyboard; perform extended periods of work at a computer workstation, view a computer monitor; perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of spoken word; and work in an office setting.

Salem College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For questions, contact Nicole Gatto, Dean of Students at [email protected]