Our Approach

At the heart of all we do is a commitment to the individual child. For over four decades, Calgary Academy (CA) has remained dedicated to creating an exceptional educational environment that fully embraces each student's unique learning profile, offering tailored pathways to their success. Our primary aim is to craft engaging, student-centred experiences that foster a deep-rooted love for learning in K-12 education. Our approach to teaching and learning is underpinned by our four pillars, a set of core beliefs, and the guiding principles of The CA Way, all of which empower a diverse range of learners to pursue lives filled with passion and purpose.

About the Role

Calgary Academy is seeking a Student Wellbeing Specialist to join our Student Supports & Wellness Team as a beginning August 20, 2025. This full-time, continuous position will report to the Head of Student Supports and will play a strategic and systematic role in designing, implementing, and evaluating school-wide wellbeing initiatives. This position actively contributes to a positive and supportive learning environment, ensuring our programs reflect best practices and evidence-based approaches that support mental health and promote the social-emotional well-being of students across the school.

Salary Range

This position’s starting annual salary is $83,000 – $90,000 and will be determined depending on a candidate’s experience and competencies. There is opportunity for yearly increases aligned with our commitment to valuing employee contributions and professional growth.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Leadership

• Design and implement tiered wellbeing programs (universal, targeted, and preventative) that promote mental health, resilience, positive self-esteem, and social-emotional growth.
• Integrate evidence-based strategies that foster student confidence, identity development, and a strong sense of belonging.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using data and student voice, and refine approaches to support whole-child development and report progress to leadership teams.

Staff Training & Collaboration

• Provide professional learning and resources to staff to build capacity in identifying and supporting student mental health and wellbeing, including strategies that build self-confidence, self-advocacy, and emotional regulation.
• Serve as a consultant to teachers and leadership on wellbeing policies, practices, and interventions.
• Support efforts to unite multiple departments who will lead intentionally with student wellbeing at the forefront of their work.

Community & External Partnerships

• Partner with families, professionals, and community organizations to promote shared understanding and continuity of support for students’ emotional wellbeing and self-worth.
• Facilitate parent education and school events that promote confidence-building strategies at home and in school.

Monitoring & Safeguarding

• Contribute to critical-incident planning, adherence to duty-of-care protocols, and safeguarding frameworks.
• Track school-wide wellbeing data to identify trends, celebrate growth, and ensure that programming supports both mental health and the development of a positive self-concept - and present insights to inform strategy.
• Contribute to the school’s broader culture of care, helping maintain an environment that empowers students and supports their identity formation and self-belief.

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Social Work, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 -5 years of professional experience in mental health, counselling, psychology, or a related field, with a focus on children in a K-12 setting.
• Specialized training in child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed care, or school-based intervention models is considered an asset.
• Additional certification in crisis intervention, SEL frameworks, or mental health programming (e.g., ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, PBIS, etc.) is also beneficial.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Understanding of mental health conditions, emotional development, and behavioral challenges common in school-aged children and teens.
• Evidence-Based Interventions: Familiarity with research-backed strategies, programs, and therapeutic approaches for supporting student mental health and wellness.
• School Systems and Structures: Awareness of how educational environments operate and how mental health supports can be effectively integrated into school culture and routines.
• Crisis Intervention and Prevention: Knowledge of protocols for identifying and responding to students in crisis, including suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and risk assessments.
• Cultural Competency and Inclusion: Understanding of how identity, background, and lived experience impact mental health—and how to design supports that are equitable and inclusive.
• Community Mental Health Resources: Familiarity with external agencies, clinical networks, and referral pathways to support students and families beyond the school setting.

Skills

• Program Design and Evaluation: Ability to create, implement, and assess the impact of mental health programs and interventions within a school setting.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Skill in working cross-functionally with educators, administrators, support staff, and families to identify student needs and implement solutions.
• Communication and Training: Strong verbal and written communication skills to provide professional development, lead workshops, and create educational materials for staff, students, and families.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Competency in gathering and interpreting data (e.g., surveys, student feedback, incident reports) to inform programming and continuous improvement.
• Confidentiality and Ethical Practice: Skill in managing sensitive information with discretion and upholding ethical standards of practice.

Attitudes

• Build Trusting Relationships: Ability to connect with students, staff, and families with empathy and authenticity, creating a safe environment for support and dialogue.
• Translate Complex Concepts: Capable of making psychological and wellness concepts accessible and actionable for non-clinical audiences (e.g., teachers, students, parents).
• Balance Systems Thinking and Individual Needs: Able to develop system-wide approaches to mental health while responding compassionately to individual student needs.
• Lead a Culture Shift: Ability to influence school culture by promoting mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and embedding wellness into the school’s daily fabric.
• Adapt and Innovate: Comfortable adjusting approaches based on evolving needs, research, or feedback—especially in a dynamic school environment.

Why Pursue Your Career at CA?

At Calgary Academy, we are passionate about creating a thriving educational environment for our students. However, we recognize that the true heart of our success lies in our dedicated employees who choose to pursue their career passions within the Headwater Learning Group.

Our commitment to our employees is centred on your well-being and financial security. We prioritize you and your family by offering extended health and drug coverage inclusive of Dental coverage, access to an Employee & Family Assistance Program, income protection with Long Term Disability in case of unforeseen circumstances, a Wellness Benefit designed to nurture your physical and mental health and an RRSP matching program to secure your financial future.

This position will follow the school calendar, with two and a half weeks off over the winter break, two weeks for spring break and approximately seven weeks over the summer break. To promote work-life balance, we offer a Personal Day, 10 Sick Days/Family Caregiving Days to use as required, and Top-Up Programs for Maternity and Paternity leaves, granting you the flexibility and support necessary for personal well-being and caring for your family members.

We are all learners, and this philosophy underpins our entire organization. We are committed to creating a collaborative work environment where every team member can grow and develop. Our belief in continuous learning is a core value and a driving force behind our strategic plan. We provide professional learning opportunities to all employees, ensuring that personal growth and development are encouraged and actively nurtured. By fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, we empower our team members to reach their full potential and contribute to the shared success of the Calgary Academy Community.

This position will work onsite Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m with a 30 min unpaid lunch break.

Aligning Values:

Please apply online through the Calgary Academy Careers Page (via ADP) and include in your application package the following information:

• A resume that demonstrates your skills and experience.
• In place of a traditional cover letter, please include a video (maximum 3 minutes) as part of your application. Share an accessible link to your video within your application package. In your video, please respond to the following prompts:

What inspired you to apply for this opportunity at Calgary Academy? How does our mission resonate with you, and how have your experiences shaped your perspective on supporting diverse learners? In your response, we invite you to reflect on how your professional journey aligns with our student-centred approach and how you bring that to life in your daily work.

Please submit your application without delay to be considered for this role. The posting will remain open until filled. We wish to thank all candidates for their interest in Calgary Academy, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.