Secondary Guidance Counselor

Penn Wood Middle School; Darby (Delaware County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The William Penn School District is seeking a Secondary Guidance Counselor for PWMS in Darby to support the district’s mission by delivering developmentally appropriate counseling lessons aligned with state standards. The role emphasizes collaboration with students, parents, and IEP teams to provide equitable, data-informed supports and to help students prepare for college and career readiness.

Strong communication, cultural competence, and ability to work within a bargaining unit 10 months are

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Pennsylvania Certification: Secondary School Counselor 7-12 or confirmed pathway to certification.
• Strong collaboration with IEP teams and families is expected.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate counseling lessons.
• Communicate regularly with students and parents.
• Collaborate with IEP teams to support students with special needs.
• Develop and monitor IEP goals and progress reports.
• Maintain attendance records and student data for progress tracking.
• Work with Behavior Analyst to implement Positive Behavior Support Plans.

Skills

Cultural competence

Equity focus

Collaboration with staff/parents

Communication with students/parents

Education

Master’s Degree

Pennsylvania Secondary School Counselor Certification (7-12)

Job description

Secondary Guidance Counselor

William Penn School District Penn Wood Middle School - Darby, Pennsylvania Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in William Penn School District

Job Details

Job ID: 5910329
Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Posted: Sep 01, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)
Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Position Title:

Secondary School Counselor

Position Location:

PWMS

Bargaining Unit:

William Penn Educational Association - 10 months

Effective Dates:

September 1, 2026

Position Summary: The ideal candidate will support the District’s mission and vision and have the primary responsibility to plan and deliver developmentally appropriate lessons that meet state-mandated standards. Each teacher will also communicate regularly and effectively with students/parents.

District Summary

The William Penn School District is located in southeastern Delaware County and serves approximately 5,000 students who reside in the boroughs of Aldan, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, and Yeadon. We share a collective vision to educate, nurture, and empower all students to become career and/or college-ready.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Duties:

• Responsible for the education of students and implementation of IEPs
• Work directly with students with special education needs and the teams that support them.
• Provide 1:1 training to staff in the areas of instruction and behavior as required by the IEP
• Implement best practices in instruction, daily living, and classroom management.
• Develop IEPs in conjunction with IEP teams.
• Prepare lessons in accordance with PA State Standards and student IEPs.
• Implement adaptations for testing and assessment.
• Identify accommodations and specially designed instruction to ensure student success.
• Develop individual assessments and administer diagnostic tests to assess students’ academic achievement.
• Collaborate with the Behavior Analyst to develop Positive Behavior Support Plans.
• Implement Crisis Intervention and Safety Care strategies.
• Collect data and monitor student progress on IEP goals.
• Submit quarterly student progress reports to the parent and the district-of-residence administrator.
• Work effectively with the teacher assistant and other members of the IEP team.
• Maintain up-to-date attendance records and child-tracking data for each enrolled student.
• Assume additional duties as assigned by the program supervisor

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge/awareness of one's own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and a desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
• Ability to understand and hold oneself and others accountable for promoting and attaining the goals as outlined in Focus Forward And Beyond.
• Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual, even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.
• Knowledge of PA Core Standards and Eligible Content
• Knowledge of Instructional Planning Guides as it relates to the instructional block
• Knowledge of Digital Curriculum components
• Ability to courageously lead conversations focused on equity, closing opportunity gaps, and equal access to technology-infused lessons of rigor.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with District staff and administrators, students, parents or guardians, outside agencies, and the public, in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual environment.
• Ability to receive and implement feedback to improve practice and systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university
• Valid Pennsylvania Certification: Secondary School Counselor 7-12 or a confirmed pathway to certification

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experiencecounseling in educational environments

Pre-employment Paperwork Requirements:

• Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, FBI Fingerprinting Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release (Act 168) forms
• School Personnel Health Record and TB test

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• Work scheduled hours consistently
• An indoor office environment is subject to frequent interruptions
• Pushing, moving, and lifting objects with a strength factor of light work
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of standard office equipment
• Clarity of vision at varying distances
• Verbal, auditory, and written capabilities to effectively communicate in an articulate manner
• Sitting and standing for extended periods of time
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking
• Reaching overhead, above the shoulders, and horizontally to retrieve and store files and supplies
• Lifting objects with a strength factor of light work
• Occasional bending, reaching, and stretching
• Occasional kneeling, crouching, and squatting
• Occasional pulling, pushing

Level of Compensation: $55,021.00 - $106,032.00 (dependent on Step and Track placement as determined based on collective bargaining agreements)

Disclaimer:

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility, and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills, or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability, or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity or task performed by every specific employee.

Position Type: Full-time 10-month