Pennwood Cyber Charter School - Secondary School Counselor

Pennwood Cyber Charter School is seeking student-centered, relationship-driven, and highly organized School Counselors to support the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and postsecondary success of students within a virtual learning environment. Working remotely from a home office in Pennsylvania, School Counselors provide direct counseling services, academic guidance, crisis response, graduation planning, and student support coordination through virtual platforms, telephone communication, and web-based systems.

School Counselors serve as trusted advocates and key points of contact for students and families while collaborating closely with instructional staff, engagement teams, administrators, and community partners to support student success and remove barriers to learning. This role supports the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) standards, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and the evolving needs of students in a cyber school setting.

The School Counselor plays a critical role in supporting student engagement, attendance, career and college readiness, graduation pathways, crisis intervention, and equitable access to academic and social-emotional supports across grades K–12.

Key Responsibilities

Comprehensive School Counseling Services

Develop, implement, and support a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with Pennsylvania Department of Education standards and school-wide student support initiatives.

Provide individual and group counseling services addressing academic, behavioral, career, attendance, and social-emotional student needs.

Support students in developing academic plans, graduation pathways, postsecondary goals, and career readiness skills.

Assist students and families with course selection, credit monitoring, graduation requirements, dual enrollment opportunities, and transition planning.

Deliver virtual classroom guidance lessons and student support sessions related to academic success, interpersonal skills, mental wellness, digital citizenship, conflict resolution, and career exploration.

Collaborate with students, families, learning coaches, and staff to identify barriers impacting student success and develop intervention strategies and support plans.

Support implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) processes through student monitoring, intervention collaboration, and participation in student support discussions.

Provide transition support for new, returning, transferring, and graduating students.

Student Support & Crisis Response

Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment support, and responsive counseling services for students experiencing academic, behavioral, emotional, or family-related challenges.

Collaborate with school leadership, engagement teams, nurses, community agencies, and external providers to coordinate appropriate student and family supports.

Support attendance intervention efforts and student engagement initiatives in collaboration with school teams.

Maintain accurate documentation and timely follow-up related to student concerns, interventions, safety plans, referrals, and counseling supports.

Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, student support teams, threat assessments, manifestation determinations, and other collaborative problem-solving processes as assigned.

Support equitable access to services and resources for students experiencing homelessness, foster care placement, medical challenges, or other identified barriers.

Academic & Postsecondary Planning

Monitor student academic progress, credit completion, graduation status, and student engagement indicators.

Support students and families with career exploration, college readiness, workforce preparation, scholarship opportunities, and postsecondary planning.

Assist with interpretation of transcripts, graduation audits, academic planning, and Pennsylvania graduation pathway requirements.

Collaborate with instructional staff and leadership to identify students at risk academically and develop intervention plans to improve student outcomes.

Support school-wide initiatives related to graduation, retention, persistence, and student success.

Collaboration & Communication

Partner with teachers, administrators, engagement teams, registrars, special populations staff, and operational departments to support student success initiatives.

Communicate academic expectations, counseling resources, intervention plans, and student support recommendations clearly and professionally to students, families, and staff.

Build positive relationships with students and families while maintaining a strong customer-service mindset in a virtual environment.

Collaborate with community organizations, higher education institutions, and external agencies to expand resources and support opportunities for students and families.

Participate in school committees, leadership initiatives, professional learning opportunities, and collaborative planning meetings.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

Master’s degree in School Counseling or related field from an accredited institution

Valid Pennsylvania School Counselor certification or eligibility for certification

Minimum of two (2) years of experience in school counseling, student services, or related educational settings preferred

Strong understanding of student support practices, graduation requirements, academic planning, and counseling ethics

Knowledge of Pennsylvania education regulations, MTSS practices, and student support processes

Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Ability to effectively engage and support diverse student populations and families within a virtual environment

Technological proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, virtual meeting platforms, and student data systems

Ability to manage confidential and sensitive student information appropriately

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote work environment

Must meet all PDE clearance requirements for school-based employees

Preferred

Experience in a virtual K–12 educational environment

Experience supporting crisis response, attendance intervention, and student engagement initiatives

Familiarity with Student Information Systems (SIS), graduation tracking systems, and counseling documentation platforms

Experience supporting college and career readiness initiatives