Director of Counseling and Lead Mental Health Counselor

Overview

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW) seeks enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to serve as the Director of Counseling and Lead Mental Health Counselor for our five-week Summer Academy. Counselors are essential members of the summer team, responsible for engaging with and supporting students (grades 1-9).

3000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Norwood School, 8821 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817

• Planning Period: 2/1/2026-06/21/2026 – Hourly work as needed
• Staff Orientation: 06/22/2026-06/26/2026 – Monday-Friday 9:00 am-3:00 pm
• Summer Program: 06/29/2026-07/31/2026 – 30 hours per week
• Post-Program Planning Period: 08/01/2026-08/31/2026 – Hourly work as needed
• There will be no program on Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day on July 4th.

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, is a dedicated leader in advancing educational opportunities by creating long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create enriching out-of-school experiences that ignite the joy of learning for our students. HGW supports over 400 students across grades 1–9 with robust year-round programming. Our approach is centered on whole-child development, specifically focusing on building problem-solving skills, fostering a strong sense of community responsibility, and instilling respect for self and others.

By maintaining this multi-year commitment from the first to the ninth grade, HGW cultivates meaningful, long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated, supportive staff. Our program design and staff practices utilize a Positive Youth Development framework, prioritizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment to meet the needs of our youth effectively.

The cornerstone of our work is the five-week Summer Academy, which expertly blends high-quality academics—with a specific focus on math, humanities, literacy, and STEAM—with comprehensive social-emotional learning, arts instruction, swimming, and confidence-building opportunities.

The Director of Counseling and Lead Mental Health Counselor will provide immediate, short-term support and crisis intervention for students experiencing emotional distress or behavioral challenges. The counselor works closely with the Site Director and the HGW administrative team. Successful applicants will be flexible and creative in response to students’ interests and needs, passionate about Horizons’ mission and building transformative relationships with youth, and self-driven, demonstrating a commitment to quality and growth.

• Conduct brief, individual check-ins with students and small groups of students identified by teachers or staff as needing support (e.g., homesickness, anxiety, conflict resolution).
• Support teachers, as needed, with the Peace of Mind Curriculum implementation and class meetings
• Manage, document, and track all student behavioral health incidents and interventions in compliance with HGW protocols and confidentiality guidelines.
• Consult with parents/guardians to coordinate support plans and provide necessary referrals for ongoing therapeutic services within the community.

• Design and facilitate training for summer staff on trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and the HGW behavioral referral process.
• Train and support teachers and staff on the Peace of Mind curriculum, providing practical tools for effective classroom meetings and emotional literacy.
• Provide weekly "office hours" or scheduled consultations for classroom teachers to troubleshoot persistent behavioral challenges or group dynamics.
• Ensure all summer staff are trained in mandated reporting protocols and HGW’s internal safety communication chain.
• Crisis Response Leadership:
  Brief the HGW administrative team on crisis management protocols, ensuring a seamless connection between the counselor, site leadership, and families.

• Help integrate SEL strategies into the daily program schedule, ensuring that community-building and emotional literacy are…