Website Crystal Springs Uplands School
Crystal is a caring and diverse community.
Interim Upper School Counselor
FLSA Classification: Exempt, 0.6 Part-Time Temporary Employee FTE.
Salary Band: $4000-$6750 (for 7 weeks of 0.60 FTE employment)
Reports to: Head of Upper School
Job Term: April 17 – June 2, 2023 (7 weeks)
MISSION STATEMENT
Through transformative teaching and meaningful connections, we empower kind, curious
learners to thrive together.
CORE VALUES
We Celebrate Scholarship
The foundation of Crystal is academic excellence.
We Seek Growth Challenges
Our culture says try it.
We Foster Kindness & Inclusion
Crystal is a caring and diverse community.
We Strive for Balance
A holistic approach to well-being is integral to our mission.
We Engage with Enthusiasm
With unbounded spirit, we give our best effort every day and pay it forward to our
community.
We Lead with Humility
Being grateful and open-minded, we pursue lifelong learning.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Summary
The Interim Upper School Counselor will help students to navigate developmental
challenges and difficulties. They will assess when students need ongoing psychotherapy or
mental health services outside of school. This role will support the growth of and support of
students who are not facing an imminent crisis. The USC will identify potential crises before
they arise and implement programs to address problems before they occur (strengthening
individuals and the community to be more resilient to challenges) and will respond to
psychological crises as they arise. This role also assists faculty, staff and parents/guardians
in their understanding of adolescent development, as a way of providing support for
teaching in a school setting.
Key Job Competencies
● Developing Others: Ability to effectively support the growth and development of
students.
● Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas
effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as
deep listening skills to gain understanding.
● Cultural Competence: Possesses and applies the skills, values, and principles that
acknowledge, respect, contribute, and work effectively across cultural differences.
Recognizes the unique value, perspectives, strengths, and challenges of every
person who comes to the Crystal community.
● Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates high levels of self/social awareness,
self-management, empathy, and curiosity.
● Relationship Management: Positively collaborates and builds/maintains authentic
and trusting relationships. Demonstrates high levels of discretion and confidentiality.
● Collaboration: the interpersonal and intrapersonal qualities one will leverage to
collectively solve a problem or make progress toward a common goal. The ability to
work with others to complete a project or task or develop ideas or processes.
Essential Functions
● Help students to navigate social/emotional challenges and difficulties.
● Assess when students need ongoing psychotherapy or mental health services
outside of school.
● Identify potential crises before they arise and implement programs to address
problems before they occur (strengthening individuals and the community to be
more resilient to challenges).
● Respond to psychological crises as they arise.
● Assist faculty, staff and parents in their understanding of adolescent development,
as a way of providing support for teaching in a school setting.
Responsibilities:
● Provide limited counseling services to students seeking (voluntary) support. Provide
follow-up support (case management) to students and their families.
● Provide outside counseling and mental health referrals to students and families as
determined by the family’s need or through counselor evaluation.
● Crisis Intervention – Assessment and clinical support for students (and their families)
in crisis. This includes, but is not limited to, 5150 (involuntary placement due to
suicidal/homicidal intention) and Child Protective Service (mandated reporting
status) situations.
● Serve as a consultant to faculty and administrators, as related to individual students
and issues
● Consult with outside clinical and medical support personnel when approved by the
family and student to provide on-campus support for students.
● Meet regularly with the Head of Upper School to keep the Head apprised of individual
students of concern and to respond to needs/concerns of the school.
● Meet regularly with the Student Support Team (SST) to streamline student support
efforts, to recognize and address concerns, and to review and respond to students of
concern identified on SST referral forms
● Significant collaboration with the Director of Academic Support for students who
receive academic accommodations for a qualifying mental health condition to
coordinate case management and build the partnership between home, school, and
outside treatment providers
● Uphold legal and ethical obligations associated with the role of counselor in a school
setting (most especially those upholding confidentiality and reporting).
● Sponsor student clubs/groups related to mental health and wellness (Student Mental
Health Network/Bring Change To Mind (BC2M))
● Maintain contact with other school counselors in the region, as needed
Required Qualifications:
● Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, School
Psychology or substantially related field
● Licensed as Psy.D., Ph.D., MFT, LCSW, or LPCC to practice in the State of California
● Knowledge of laws, regulations and ethical guidelines relating to delivery of mental
health services in the school setting (by training, study or experience)
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
● Able to work in a dynamic environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges,
deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
● Able to lift up to 20 pounds
● Able to climb stairs
● May work at a desk and computer for extended periods
Travel Required
● Light travel between the Middle School and Upper School campuses, as needed
Other Professional Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing
of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,
responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Effects on End Result
The effectiveness of this position will be measured by:
● Quick response rate
● Effective response to needs
● Effective de-escalation of conflicts/issues/interactions
● Increased levels of student engagement
● Increased levels of student well-being
● Quality of programming offered
● Reduction in student escalations
● Reduction in punitive action
● Increased sense of inclusion and belonging
Salary and Benefits
This is a part-time temporary position (24 hours/week for 7 weeks) eligible for 10-month
employee benefits. This position is an exempt position. The salary for this position is within
the range of $5400-$9000 (for 7 weeks of 0.60 FTE employment) and will be based on
work experience and education.
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the institution, please
reach out to Human Resources.
Interested candidates should apply immediately by submitting 1) a cover letter
describing your interest in the position as well as your anticipated contribution to the
Crystal community given the job description, 2) your resume, and 3) a list of three
references to Alex Lockett, Head of Upper School, by email: HR@csus.org or by mail:
Crystal Springs Uplands School, 400 Uplands Drive, Hillsborough, CA 94010.
The recruitment period will remain open until sufficient resumes have been received and may close at any time a sufficient pool of highly qualified candidates has been established.
