Job Description

Middle School Counselor

Middle School

Head of Middle School

Exempt (Salary)

Full-time (10 months)

March 14, 2025

August 2025

About The Hockaday School:

The Hockaday School is an independent, college preparatory school for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world. With an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, The Hockaday School is the nation’s largest prekindergarten through grade 12 independent girls’ school. Ranked among the country’s finest college preparatory schools, it was founded over a century ago and continues today to build on its original Four Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics.

Hockaday’s faculty are recognized as experienced leaders in their field and students in every grade benefit from outstanding faculty and access to unmatched resources.  Families who choose Hockaday care deeply about providing their daughters with a comprehensive and rigorous education, both inside and outside the classroom. Hockaday’s student body reflects the diversity that is deeply valued by the School.

Position Description:

The Hockaday School is an extraordinary place to work, with bright and engaged students and unparalleled professional development opportunities and support.

Hockaday’s Counseling program is comprised of four counselors, one in the Lower School, one in the Middle School, and two in the Upper School. All four counselors work closely together and with the Division Heads, Director of Learning Support, and the Director of Health Services and have significant training and experience in counseling, wellness education, therapeutic intervention, and program development.

Applicants for the Middle School Counseling position may also apply for the Counseling Department Chair position.

Essential Functions:

The Hockaday School seeks an experienced Middle School Counselor for the 2025–26 Academic Year. This position is primarily responsible for the support of Middle School students, their parents, and Middle School faculty. The Middle School Counselor reports to the Head of Middle School and meets regularly with the Head of Middle School and the School Guidance Team to review student issues and plan programming. Utilizing counseling expertise, leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, the Middle School Counselor promotes student success and provides preventive services and programs and timely responses to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive counseling program that addresses academic and personal/social development for all Middle School students.

·         Build deep relationships with students, families, and staff to foster a culture of community

·         Maintain accurate records of counseling interactions, including meetings with parents and teachers, and ensure all documentation adheres to confidentiality standards

·         Work closely with Middle School Division Head, Assistant Head of Middle School, and Learning Specialists to support student growth and development

·         Partner with counselors across divisions to ensure consistency in counseling practices and resources available to students

·         Provide ongoing communication with faculty and parents regarding students' social and emotional well-being, addressing concerns promptly and collaboratively

·         Provide crisis intervention and emotional support during emergencies or difficult situations

·         Be knowledgeable about external mental health resources, providing referrals and support for students needing specialized assistance

·         Act as a liaison between the school and external mental health providers to facilitate comprehensive care when necessary

·         Meet regularly with students for short-term counseling and intervention and with parents as appropriate

·         Maintain accurate records of counseling interactions, including meetings with students, parents and teachers, and ensure all documentation adheres to confidentiality standards

·         Design and implement programming focused on the social, emotional, and age-appropriate development of the students (including advisory programming, short-term initiatives, and long-term programs to support students)

·         Teaches social emotional learning (SEL) classes and small-group SEL lessons to Middle School students

·         Serve as an expert on various SEL topics and present as needed at student, faculty, parents' events

·         Oversee Cornerstone curriculum and programming for Middle School advisory 

·         Monitor and support students in various settings (e.g. recess, lunch, carpool)

·         Attend class trips, regular Middle School Guidance Team meetings, Grade-Level Meetings, and MS Faculty meetings

·         Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Experience:

·         Bachelor’s degree in school counseling, social work, or related field required

·         Master’s degree in school counseling, social work, or related field preferred

·         Counseling license required

·         Experience working with adolescents in a counseling setting, preferably, of diverse backgrounds

·         Experience working in a school setting preferred

·         Experience developing and implementing student programs

·         Commitment to being a supportive, respectful, and energetic colleague and mentor

·         Must have the ability to work in a school environment through satisfactory completion of all legally required and School-required background and screening checks and verifications, including criminal and sex offender background checks.

Training:

·         Participate in all requisite School trainings prior to the start of the school and throughout the School year

·         Attend required staff development and training sessions throughout the year

·         Attend periodic in-service meetings

·         Acknowledge receipt of the current Employee Handbook and are responsible for reviewing the contents and abiding by rules, policies and procedures stated in the Handbook or otherwise by the School

·         Abide by Hockaday’s Code of Ethics and Conduct

·         Commit to the ideals expressed in Hockaday’s Tenets of Faculty Excellence

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

·         Regularly works in standard office or classroom conditions and climate

·         Regularly uses close and distance vision, including working at a computer screen for extended periods of time; ability to observe students from various distances

·         Frequently required to move around the office/classroom; works at a desk for extended periods of time

·         Ability to occasionally move items weighing up to 30lbs. across the campus/classroom/office

·         Ability to periodically support before and after-school or weekend events

·         Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  This job description reflects administration’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts administration’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Application Requirements:

Qualified candidates should complete an online application for employment under “How to Apply” at and attach a cover letter and résumé. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application and additional details to complete the application process. Contact recruitment@hockaday.org with any questions.

The Hockaday School is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy not to discriminate, and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, or other applicable protected classification.

About The Hockaday School

The Hockaday School is an independent, college preparatory day and boarding school for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world. With an enrollment of almost 1,100 students, The Hockaday School is the nation’s largest prekindergarten through grade 12 independent girls’ school. Ranked among the country’s finest college preparatory schools, it was founded over a century ago and continues today to build on its original Four Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. Hockaday’s faculty are recognized as experienced leaders in their field and students in every grade benefit from outstanding faculty and access to unmatched resources. Families who choose Hockaday care deeply about providing their daughters with a comprehensive and rigorous education, both inside and outside the classroom. Hockaday’s student body reflects the diversity that is deeply valued by the School. While most Hockaday families come from across the great Dallas-Fort Worth area, Hockaday students also come from across the United States and around the world. The Hockaday School is an ... extraordinary place to work, with bright and engaged students and unparalleled professional development opportunities and support. Mission Statement: Believing in the limitless potential of girls, Hockaday develops resilient, confident women who are educated and inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.

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