Role Overview
The School Counselor at Sankoré is responsible for advancing student well-being, belonging, and holistic development across a diverse and complex school community. This role operates at the intersection of academic success, social-emotional health, and community context.

Working under the Head of Support and Belonging, the counselor plays a central role in ensuring that every student is known, supported, and equipped to navigate both school and life. The position requires a practitioner who can operate across individual counseling, systems-building, and community engagement—while remaining grounded in Sankoré’s values of dignity, equity, and student agency.

Core Responsibilities
Student Counseling and Direct Support
Provide individual and small-group counseling to students across grade levels, addressing:
Social-emotional development
Mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety, trauma, stress, identity)
Behavioral concerns
Peer relationships and conflict
Develop and implement individualized student support plans where needed
Maintain accurate, confidential records of all counseling interactions
Identify early warning signs and intervene proactively
2. Safeguarding and Student Protection

Serve as a key point of contact for student safeguarding concerns
Identify, document, and escalate cases of abuse, neglect, or risk in line with school policies
Work closely with leadership and external partners where necessary
Ensure all safeguarding practices are trauma-informed and culturally responsive
3. Whole-School Social-Emotional Programming

Design and deliver structured social-emotional learning (SEL) programming
Integrate well-being practices into the broader school culture
Support the development of life skills including resilience, emotional regulation, and decision-making
Collaborate with teaching staff to embed SEL into classroom practice
4. Student Belonging and Inclusion

Actively contribute to a school culture where all students feel safe, respected, and included
Support students navigating identity, marginalization, and exclusion
Work with the Head of Support and Belonging to implement inclusion strategies across the school
Facilitate student voice initiatives related to well-being and belonging
5. Family and Community Engagement

Engage families as partners in student well-being, particularly in complex or sensitive cases
Provide guidance to caregivers on supporting children’s emotional and behavioral needs
Navigate diverse family contexts with cultural sensitivity and respect
Connect families to relevant external resources when needed
6. Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS)

Contribute to the design and implementation of tiered student support systems:
Tier 1: Universal well-being and SEL programming
Tier 2: Targeted small-group interventions
Tier 3: Intensive individualized support
Use data and observation to inform interventions and track progress
Participate in regular student support reviews with school leadership
7. Collaboration with Staff

Serve as a resource to teachers on student behavior, well-being, and classroom dynamics
Provide training or guidance on trauma-informed and inclusive practices
Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to coordinate student support
Support staff in responding appropriately to student needs
8. External Partnerships and Referrals

Build and maintain relationships with external service providers (mental health, social services, health systems)
Refer students and families to specialized support where appropriate
Coordinate follow-up and continuity of care
Contextual Expectations
The Sankoré School Counselor must be able to operate effectively within a diverse and high-need community, where students may face:

Economic instability
Family stressors
Exposure to trauma
Gaps in access to services
Complex identity and belonging dynamics
This requires:

Cultural competence and humility
Strong ethical judgment
The ability to balance empathy with clear boundaries
Comfort working across school and community ecosystems
Reporting Line
Reports directly to the Head of Support and Belonging

Qualifications and Experience
Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field
Professional certification or licensure in counseling
Minimum 3–5 years of explicit counseling experience working with children or adolescents in schools. International Schools preferred.[1] [2]
Experience in school-based and/or community-based settings strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience working with diverse or underserved populations
Core Competencies
Strong counseling and interpersonal skills
Ability to build trust with students from varied backgrounds
High level of discretion and professionalism
Systems thinking: able to operate beyond one-on-one counseling
Clear communication with students, staff, and families
Crisis management and safeguarding awareness
Organizational and documentation rigor

Interested candidates should submit:

CV
Cover letter highlighting the experience in the area of the specialization

Subject Line: School Counselor