High School SEL Counselor

High School SEL Counselor 

As a High School SEL Counselor at KAS, you will play a vital role in supporting the emotional and social well-being of students by providing counseling services, supporting a robust advisory program, and fostering a positive and inclusive environment for all students. The counselor is often in classrooms or interacting with students during break time to better understand and support student needs. The counselor is a role model for the school in forming trusting relationships and coaches teachers and parents in ways to best support our students’ well-being. Our HS SEL Counseling program consists of two full-time professionals.

We look for faculty members with a learning mindset, “can do” approach to teaching and learning, a sense of humor, and a desire to contribute to innovation and improvement as a team player. Tech and AI agility and confidence, and a commitment to excellence in a student-centered school are needed! Additionally, our team is seeking faculty who share a commitment to engaging in a diverse professional community that is growing in its DEIJ principles and practices. 

Key Responsibilities for the SEL Counseling Team:

• Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding children as a priority. 
• Serves and supports the emotional and developmental needs of the students through one-on-one and small-group counseling.
• Promote a positive school climate among students, staff, and community.
• Provides working knowledge and expertise of children with behavior concerns and emotional concerns.
• Conduct orientation activities for students new to the school.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Consult with teachers, parents, and administrators in the design of behavior plans and interventions.
• Meet regularly with a consulting psychiatrist, and schedule student, teacher and parent meetings. 
• Conduct and facilitate conferences with teachers, students, and parents related to social/emotional concerns as needed. 
• In collaboration with the Learning Support Coordinator, maintain records to document observations, interactions, and interventions for students. 
• Maintain documentation on child protection issues. 
• Under the direction of the school principal and in collaboration with the Learning Support Coordinator determine and implement the student support team process.
• Provide conflict mediation and problem solving as needed with students.
• Serves as a consultant during child protection concerns and accusations. 
• Design and deliver whole class developmental social-emotional wellness lessons/units.
• Work with counseling team to plan and implement the HS Advisory program
• Assist Principals in building/revising master schedule.
• Meets as needed with the members of the Senior Leadership Team for updating and planning. 
• Any other responsibilities as determined by school principals.

Preferred qualifications include:

• An aptitude for building and maintaining positive relationships with students, educators and parents.
• At least 5 successful years of experience as a Secondary School or Schoolwide Counselor
• A range of experiences in US and/or international schools that have led to the development of multiple lenses and perspectives.
• Strong understanding and respect for a diversity of cultures and the needs of language learners.
• A demonstrated ability to collaborate including presenting, facilitating, coaching and consulting in order to support and develop highly effective groups.
• Has life experiences that demonstrate, among other things, a growth mindset, versatility, adaptability and resilience.
• A commitment to developing and supporting a diverse professional community that is growing in its DEI principles and practices. 
• Excellent organizational strategies and an aptitude for solving problems.
• Fluency in English; fluency in Mandarin is a plus.
• Effective communication skills utilizing a variety of mediums and techniques.

Experience with creating, facilitating and implementing processes and procedures around child protection and safeguarding. 

About KAS: 

Kaohsiung American School (KAS) is a private, not-for-profit day school established in 1989 for the children of expatriate families in Kaohsiung. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and offers the IB’s MYP and DP programmes. We receive annual grants and sponsorship from the US Department of State.

Kaohsiung American School moved into its beautiful, purpose-built campus buildings in 2015/2016. We are recognized as the premier international school in southern Taiwan. We currently enroll 790 students from 40+ countries, although most of our students share Taiwanese heritage and Mandarin as a first language. Every year, 65–85% of our students are full IB Diploma candidates, and almost all other students will take certificates in one or more subject areas. All our students are multilingual learners.

KAS is Committed to Child Safeguarding

• KAS conducts rigorous background and reference checks on all candidates. 
• Employees and volunteers at KAS receive training to recognize signs of abuse and neglect and are required to report suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect. 
• Our child protection response team uses a team-based approach to respond to each reported incident in accordance with Taiwanese law and international best practices. 
• KAS is committed to supporting and recognizing the identities of all students. We foster an environment free of discrimination and other forms of identity-based harm. 

Kaohsiung American School (KAS) is a private, not-for-profit day school established in 1989 for the children of expatriate families in Kaohsiung. KAS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and offers the IB’s MYP and DP programmes. We hold memberships in the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), AAIE, CIS, AISA and other regional and global school associations. Our modern campus includes certified LEED Gold and Silver facilities.