The School
At Greens Farms Academy
(GFA), students are empowered to do the hard, thrilling, essential work of
shaping their own world, of building their own future. More than 700 PreK -12
students come from 23 towns in Fairfield and Westchester counties and form a joyful
community that aspires to live by the school's motto, "Each for All."
The school’s highly regarded academic program is built around small class sizes
(average 15), mentoring partnerships with faculty (8:1 student to teacher
ratio), and innovative programs designed to support students’ pursuit of
inquiry. The faculty is characterized by its growth mindset, embracing
innovation, exploring a range of student-centered approaches, and constantly
seeking to better serve its students.
The GFA mission plays an
essential role in school life: GFA engages students as partners in an
innovative, inclusive, and globally-minded community to prepare them for lives
of purpose. Faculty and staff have committed that language to memory, along
with our core values -- passion, integrity, empathy, curiosity, excellence --
so as to better live out the spirit of those words.
The Position
Greens Farms Academy seeks
a Lower School Counselor to begin in August 2025. The ideal candidate is an
excellent communicator and collaborator with a deep understanding of the
social, emotional, and academic needs of elementary students. Responsibilities
include collaborating with and supporting classroom teachers, as well as
providing one-on-one, group, and classroom support to enhance students’ social,
behavioral and mental health outcomes. This role requires effective
partnerships with faculty to integrate supportive strategies within the
classroom, ensuring a cohesive approach to student wellness and development.
The counselor will also be
responsible for maintaining and delivering social-emotional learning (SEL)
lessons to grades 1 through 4. They will collaborate with the student support
team, including administrators, psychologists and learning specialists to identify
and address psychoeducational concerns, and develop and implement student
behavior plans.
Additional duties involve
communicating with and supporting parents through individual consultations and
educational sessions, and collaborating with upper and middle school counselors
as part of the Counseling department. Familiarity with the RULER approach (Yale
University) and Responsive Classroom techniques is highly desirable.
Qualifications
●
2-5
years of experience working with elementary-aged children (K-4) in a counseling
role, preferably in a school setting.
●
Master's
degree in Counseling, Social Work, School Psychology, or a related field.
●
Proficiency
in assessing student needs and developing individualized and group
interventions.
●
Knowledge
and facility with the integration of children's social, emotional, cognitive,
and behavioral development.
●
Experience
in facilitating curriculum and programs designed to teach and reinforce
developmental skills at appropriate age levels.
For all positions, we look
for candidates who enjoy working with colleagues in a collaborative
environment; are flexible, creative, and adaptable; demonstrate a willingness
to fully engage in the life of the school in and outside of the classroom; and
are committed to fostering a culture of belonging for all students under our
care.
Location
Founded in 1925, GFA is
situated on a former Vanderbilt estate in a scenic 44-acre waterfront campus
located in Westport, CT. GFA is a
suburban school close to many transportation options and a five-minute walk
from the Greens Farms Metro-North train station. The campus sits a half-hour
south of New Haven and an hour north of New York City by car or commuter train.
Application
At GFA we are committed to
a policy of equal employment for all applicants. As part of our commitment to a
diverse and inclusive school, we recruit and hire applicants with diverse
backgrounds. Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume
through this application form (you will need a Gmail account to upload your resume
and cover letter in a single PDF file). Please address the cover letter to Sue
Teyan, Associate Head of School.