School Counselor

School Counselor

Insight PA believes in education for anyone. We provide families an online option for a high-quality, personalized education experience. Students can thrive, find their passion, and learn in an environment that encourages discovery at their own pace. The mission of Insight PA Cyber Charter School (ISPA) is to provide an exemplary individualized and engaging educational experience for students by incorporating school and community/family partnerships coupled with a rigorous curriculum along with a data-driven and student-centered instructional model. Student success will be measured by valid and reliable assessment data, parent and student satisfaction, and continued institutional growth within the academic community.

The School Counselor is a highly qualified, PA certified educator responsible for implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports students' academic achievement, career and college readiness, and social-emotional development. The School Counselor collaborates with students, families, educators, and community partners to provide proactive supports, responsive services, and individualized interventions that foster student success in a virtual learning environment. This is a full-time position. Ability to work independently, typically 40 hours per week is required. Ability to maintain a professional home office without distraction during workday, typically 8-4 or as defined by the school. Residency Requirement: Resident of Pennsylvania; residents of other states will be considered on a case by case basis.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Academic Planning and Student Success: Takes ownership of student academic progress, graduation planning, and postsecondary readiness by proactively monitoring student performance, credit attainment, and graduation requirements. Develops individualized academic plans and collaborates with students, families, and educators to establish goals that support student achievement and successful graduation. Assists with student scheduling, course selection, placement decisions, credit recovery planning, and academic program transitions. Analyzes academic, attendance, behavioral, and engagement data to identify student needs, monitor progress, and implement targeted interventions. Collaborates with teachers, administrators, and multidisciplinary teams through the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to improve student outcomes. Assists students in developing academic success skills, including organization, study strategies, goal setting, self-advocacy, and effective learning habits. Collaborates with school teams to support the implementation and monitoring of Section 504 Plans. Supports schoolwide assessment initiatives, including state testing, while assisting with student preparation and communication with families and staff.
• College and Career Readiness: Leads the implementation of a comprehensive college and career readiness program that prepares students for postsecondary education, career pathways, military service, apprenticeships, and workforce opportunities. Provides individualized academic and career planning that aligns student interests, strengths, abilities, and goals with appropriate educational and career pathways. Assists students and families with graduation planning, postsecondary admissions, financial aid resources, scholarships, career and technical education opportunities, dual enrollment, and workforce readiness. Delivers classroom lessons, workshops, and individualized guidance that promote career exploration, career awareness, employability skills, and informed postsecondary decision-making.
• Student Well-Being: Promotes students' social-emotional well-being through preventative programming, individual student support, and responsive counseling services. Provides crisis response, risk assessment, and short-term intervention in accordance with school procedures and Crisis Response Team protocols. Collaborates with students, families, educators, and community agencies to identify barriers to learning and coordinate appropriate supports and resources. Plans and facilitates schoolwide initiatives, awareness campaigns, and student engagement activities that foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive school climate.

Professional Responsibilities

Maintains accurate, timely, and confidential student records in compliance with federal, state, and school requirements. Demonstrates professionalism through ethical decision making, effective communication, collaboration, accountability, and sound professional judgment. Participates in professional learning, continuous improvement initiatives, and program evaluation to strengthen student outcomes and counseling services. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no regular supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Master's degree in School Counseling or related field AND Three (3) years of experience in counseling and/or advisement OR Equivalent combination of education and experience All PDE required clearances for school-based personnel

Minimum Required Skill Set

Great organizational and time management skills Strong written and verbal communication skills Adaptable technology skills Experience using search engines (internet) for research projects Experience using a student information system and/or other type of database Demonstrated competencies with general technology, Microsoft Office Platforms (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams, etc.), Google Platforms, Zoom, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with virtual learning. Advanced coursework in counseling and administration. Experience as a K-12 counselor. Experience with local, state, and federal laws and mandated reporting. Experience in a charter school environment. Experience with state career planning systems, Pathfinder, or other career planning platforms/tools.

Valid PA School Counselor Certification.

Work Environment

This is a home-based position. When office days are required, the noise level in the office is usually moderate (computers, printers, light foot traffic). This position will include limited travel and will include limited overnight travel. This is estimated to be less than Travel Percentage of the time. Travel will be required for community events, PD and state testing.

Job Performance Requirements

Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Ability to exhibit mental dexterity to "dial" a telephone, to enter data into a computer, to read a computer screen and printed material, to hear and understand speech at normal office/workplace levels, and on the telephone, and to speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in the workplace and on the telephone. Ability to physically lift up to 30 pounds. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret workplace documents, technical procedures, research studies, and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports with clarity. Ability to interface diplomatically with all members of the school community - administrators, teachers, parents, students, Board members, support staff, colleagues, and outside professional contacts. Ability to coordinate and use technology for a variety of workplace purposes and communications. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of this position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is at-will as governed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The at-will nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Insight PA Cyber Charter School. Insight PA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status age, or genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.