Position: SEL Counselor - Lower School (grades K-4th). This position is for the 2025-2026 school year.

Reports to: Lower School Principal

Primary Responsibility:

An SEL Counselor for Elementary focuses on fostering Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in young learners, helping them grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually. This role incorporates SEL principles with a Christian worldview, equipping students to reflect Christ’s love in their relationships, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

Position Goal:

The goal of this position is to support Traders Point Christian School’s mission to challenge and educate students within the framework of a Biblical worldview while leading them to a personal faith and transformed life in Jesus Christ. We are Jesus-centered, relationally-driven, and educationally-anchored.

Qualifications:

Educational and Experience:

• Candidates must be professing and maturing Christians enthusiastically supporting the School’s statement of faith and mission statements.  
• A bachelor’s degree in School Counseling, Social Work, or a related field, with a focus on elementary education.  
• Experience in counseling or teaching within a Christian school setting is preferred. 
• The ideal candidate will excel at developing collaborative relationships with all constituencies. 
• Excellent communication skills are a must, including writing and presentation abilities. 
• In addition, the position requires the ability to organize and prioritize work, resolve problems, follow through, and manage multiple priorities to ensure that goals are met in a timely manner.
• Strong understanding of SEL frameworks and the ability to integrate them with biblical teachings.

Qualifying Characteristics:

• The SEL counselor has a clear biblical testimony of salvation with an authentic and mature personal relationship with Jesus Christ in both their professional and personal life with a calling and commitment to Christian education. 
• The ideal counselor must have the desire to work closely and nurture a positive relationship with students, teachers, parents, staff, school administrators, and community members. 
• The counselor must demonstrate respect for all students and community members. 
• The ability to exercise good judgment, set a good example, and comply with school standards is a must as well as the ability to deal with sensitive and confidential issues in a tactful and professional manner. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

Faith-Integrated SEL Instruction

• Develop and deliver lessons on topics such as:
• Bullying prevention rooted in biblical principles of kindness, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
• Cultural awareness, highlighting that all individuals are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
• The Golden Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).
• Positive social interactions guided by scripture, such as "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31).
• Emotional regulation and resilience, encouraging reliance on prayer and God’s guidance.
• Responsible decision-making and conflict resolution through Christian ethics and values.

Counseling and Emotional Support

• Offer individual and group sessions to address emotional, social, and spiritual challenges.
• Guide students to apply biblical principles in managing stress, anxiety, and interpersonal conflicts.
• Facilitate Christ-centered conflict mediation to encourage reconciliation and restoration.

School-Wide Initiatives

• Promote a school culture that reflects Christian virtues such as compassion, humility, and patience (Colossians 3:12).
• Lead initiatives to foster community 
• Implement programs that encourage empathy, gratitude, and servant leadership.

Testing Coordination

• Oversee ILEARN, IREAD, and WIDA testing processes, ensuring:
• Test schedules and materials are well-prepared and communicated.
• Students with accommodations (e.g., IEP, 504 Plans) are supported effectively.
• The testing environment reflects fairness, integrity, and minimal stress.
• Communicate testing protocols and results clearly to teachers and families.

Family and Community Engagement

• Partner with parents to reinforce SEL skills at home using faith-based strategies.
• Discussions with families on topics such as bullying prevention, emotional health, and faith-based interactions.
• Collaborate with local churches and Christian organizations to enhance SEL programming.

Professional Development and Collaboration

• Participate in ongoing training on SEL best practices, integrating them with a Christian worldview.
• Collaborate with teachers and staff to embed SEL principles into daily routines and lessons.
• Serve as a resource, providing strategies for incorporating SEL into the classroom from a biblical perspective.

Behavioral Guidance and Discipline

• Address behavioral concerns using redemptive and restorative approaches aligned with Christian teachings.
• Encourage students to seek forgiveness, make amends, and grow through accountability.

Administrative Duties

• Track and document SEL interventions and counseling sessions to evaluate effectiveness.
• Provide regular updates to school leadership on SEL initiatives, testing coordination, and overall student well-being.

Other duties as assigned by the Lower School Principal