School Counselor - Secondary - Long-Term Substitute na Downingtown Area School District

Position: School Counselor - Secondary - Long-Term Substitute
Location: Downingtown High School East
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Effective Date: Approx. January 5, 2026 - End of 25-26 School Year
 

Are you passionate about helping ALL students learn in a collaborative environment? If so, we may have the career for you! Downingtown Area School District is excited to announce an opening for all certified secondary school counselors for the 2025-2026 school year. We currently have a long-term substitute contract available at Downingtown High School East. The approximate start date for this position will be January 5th - End of 25-26 School Year.

At DASD, we are committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence in education. As a diverse district, we continually seek ways to strengthen our educational environment. We believe that we can best promote excellence by recruiting and retaining a diverse group of staff who bring various backgrounds and perspectives. Our ability to create and maintain a climate of respect is critical to attaining the best teaching and learning environment.

At Downingtown Area School District we value our employees. We seek to hire new staff who:

• Communicate openly to build relationships and trust  
• Partner with team members to see the TEAM succeed
• Demonstrate a growth mindset and seek ongoing opportunities for growth
• Embrace and support a safe and inclusive environment
• Eagerly and enthusiastically support student learning
• Strive to be kind and reflective
• Focus on the solution and put people first
• Lead by example!

If you want to be part of our “Downingtown Proud” team - please apply! Help us with our mission to educate all students to meet the rigorous challenges of a global society.

Job Summary: The school counselor promotes the overall development of students from kindergarten to twelfth grade in the academic, career, and personal/social areas.

Qualifications: (Abbreviated - Please review the attached Job Description for more details on this specific opportunity)

• Candidate must be a graduate of an accredited college or university and hold a proper Pennsylvania certification for the position
• Required to complete all IB training
• Proficiency in use of technology for individual or group demonstration or communication
• Must be able to flex and vary hours to accommodate needs of students, parents, and other teachers
• Possesses effective interpersonal skills with the ability to interface diplomatically with teachers, administrators, parents, students, and outside organizations
• Demonstrates effective communication skills to provide accurate information to others and to obtain, give, and follow directions
• Demonstrates ability to provide good judgment, planning, and human relations skills, as well as be required to work under periods of stress due to the level of the position responsibility
• Follows the standard of member conduct as stated in the PA Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators
• Possess the skills necessary to effectively implement the district guidance curriculum
• Must successfully complete and maintain compliance with all federal and state background and criminal record check requirements
  • Click here for more information about required clearances
• Candidate must adhere to all local, state, federal, and school code requirements for employment

Duties & Responsibilities:  (Abbreviated - Please review the attached Job Description for more details on this specific opportunity)

• Guides students through the development of educational, career, & personal plans through implementation of district counseling curriculum and other strategies.
• Consults with staff in implementing the assigned tasks and services.
• Counsels individual and/or small groups of students with presenting concerns.
• Uses accepted theories & techniques appropriate to school counseling.
• Consults and conferences with parents/guardians, staff, administrators, agencies, and others to enhance ongoing work with students.
• Uses an effective process for referring students and others toward special programs and services within and outside of the district.
• Coordinates with appropriate Intervention Counselor, School Social Worker, Attendance Officer, and caseworker to follow up and/or return to school transition. Participates in the coordination of the building’s standardized testing programs.
• Interprets test and other appraisal results when necessary.
• Uses other sources of student data appropriately for assessment purposes.
• Works with Probation officers & the Juvenile Court system when necessary.
• Oversees & maintains accurate student records.
• Adheres to district policies & procedures.
• Adheres to professional, ethical, and legal standards.
• Participates in educational team meetings including Child Study, Pre-referral and Multidisciplinary Teams, SAP Team.
• Serves as a member of the Gifted Multidisciplinary Team
• Responsible for collating, completing, and submitting of referrals for multidisciplinary evaluations.
• Participates in Interagency Team meetings when requested.
• Serves as a member of the IEP meetings.

Schedule:
7.5 hours per day based upon district-approved calendar
Up to 191 days per year, plus up to 3 days of orientation for professional employees during first year of employment

Summary of Benefits:
Select Health Benefits a la carte - Only pay for what you need

• Medical Coverage through IBX - PPO plans only
  • No Primary Care Physician necessary
  • No referrals required
  • IBC has extensive local and national networks
• Prescription Coverage through CVS/Caremark
• Dental Coverage - Delta Dental Active PPO
  • Allows use of in-network and out-of-network providers
• Vision Coverage - Vision Benefits of America (VBA)

• Fitness Program
  • Receive $150 back when you complete 120 workouts at an approved fitness facility within 365 days. www.ibx.com/reimbursements
• Nutritional Counseling
  • Up to 6 free visits per calendar year with a registered dietitian.
• Employee Assistance Program
  • Health Advocate is a free, confidential program that offers EAP+ Work/Life benefits to help you address difficulties in your life by providing short term assistance with personal, family, and work issues. In addition, it simplifies the navigation of the health care system by helping you find the right doctors, resolving billing and insurance claim issues, explaining benefit coverages, helping your parents or in-laws with the complexities of Medicare, and much more! 
• Telemedicine
  • The telemedicine benefit through SwiftMD is offered to ALL DASD employees at no cost to you. The telemedicine benefit allows for consultations with US board-certified doctors over the phone or online, from your home, office, or on the road. These physicians can diagnose, recommend treatment, and submit prescriptions to your pharmacy of choice. 

Income Protection Benefit
Pays 60% of your basic monthly pay, up to $2,800 per month

Tuition Reimbursement
75% of tuition if grade if B or better is attained; limit 12 credits per year.

Induction Program
All new teachers, including Long Term Substitutes (LTS), will participate in the DASD Induction Program. The district offers a one- or two-year program depending on the number of years of prior professional experience within PA public schools. 

• After-school workshops
• Collaborative coaching with instructional coach
• Assigned mentor for additional support
• Collaboration meetings with curriculum leader, grade level leader, or supervisor(s)
• New hire faculty meetings with principal(s)

• 10 sick days annually
• 2 personal days annually; may accumulate up to 5

• Personal Days Payout
• Sick Days Payout

EOE