Job Summary:

Greene Street Friends School seeks an enthusiastic, responsible, and developmentally minded Lead Counselor to serve as a core classroom leader in Greene Street Summer Friends, the School’s Preschool–Kindergarten summer program for children ages 3–5.

The Lead Counselor is responsible for fostering a joyful, safe, and engaging classroom environment rooted in inquiry, play, and community. Working in close partnership with an Assistant Counselor, the Lead Counselor designs and facilitates daily learning experiences aligned with GSFS’s early childhood philosophy, emphasizing social-emotional development, creativity, exploration, play-based and experiential learning, and strong relationship-building.

This is a seasonal, full-day summer position ideal for educators, camp professionals, graduate students, or youth development practitioners seeking meaningful work with young children in a mission-driven school setting.

The successful candidate will demonstrate reliability, warmth, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student well-being.

Employee Classification

Exempt

Position Type/Work Hours

Full-time

Reports to:

Director of Auxiliary Programming

Supervisory Responsibilities:

May provide guidance to Assistant Counselor and support Junior Counselors or Counselors-in-Training (if assigned)

Core Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Serve as a primary classroom leader for one early childhood cohort (Rising Preschool, Rising Pre-K, or Rising Kindergarten).
2. Implement weekly inquiry themes through developmentally appropriate activities, including storytelling, art, sensory play, outdoor exploration, and movement.
3. Facilitate daily routines such as morning meeting, inquiry blocks, outdoor play, rest/quiet time, and closing circle.
4. Create a warm, inclusive classroom culture that reflects Quaker values of respect, community, and stewardship.
5. Support children’s social-emotional development through modeling, conflict resolution, and consistent expectations.
6. Supervise children closely to ensure safety during all activities, transitions, outdoor play, and summer programming experiences.
7. Collaborate with the Assistant Counselor to maintain an organized, engaging, and responsive learning environment.
8. Communicate regularly with program leadership regarding student needs, classroom dynamics, and materials.
9. Support enrichment activities and assist with on-campus or off-campus field experiences as assigned.
10. Maintain professional, respectful interactions with families during arrival and dismissal.
11. Uphold all GSFS policies related to child safety, supervision, and conduct.

Required Skills/Abilities:

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
2. Proficient with Google Suite or related software
3. A deep understanding of early childhood development and a passion for play-based learning.
4. Ability to collaborate effectively in a co-teaching model and adapt to the needs of a young children

Education and Experience:

1. Prior teaching experience
2. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field is preferred.
3. At least 1–2 years of experience working with childhood-aged children in a classroom or childcare setting.
4. Documented prior experience in a classroom/education setting, experience in independent and Quaker schools highly desirable
5. A love of working with young students

Physical Requirements:

1. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
2. Moves equipment weighing up to 50 pounds

Compensation:

1. Hourly rate aligned with GSFS summer program pay scales
2. Commensurate with Experience