School: Upper Merion Area Middle School

Room A113 Guidance Office

8th Grade School Counselor

Email: jbonner@umasd.org

Phone: EXT 8838 

Welcome to my web page. I am excited to begin my 5th year at Upper Merion Area Middle School! For the past four years, I have been teaching the Leadership course for all students in grades 5 through 8. Beginning September 2021, I will be the school counselor for all of 8th grade.

Before coming to UM, I spent four years as a high school counselor at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, an online blended learning program for students across the state of Pennsylvania. During this time I worked with students in grades 9 through 12. I enjoyed working with high school students, assisting them with career and college preparation, study skills, college applications, and much more. Before starting at PALCS, I worked as an elementary school counselor for two years in the Philadelphia School District.

Sports have always been a big part of my life. After graduating from high school in 2004, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I competed in swimming. I spent two amazing at Wisconsin before ultimatley making the decision to transfer back home to Pennsylvania. I continued my academic and athletic career at Penn State, where I graduated in 2009 with a double major in Sociology and Criminal Law.

Because I knew that I wanted to be a school counselor, I immediately pursued my Master's degree in School Counseling. I graduated from West Chester University in 2011.

I have stayed active in athletics as a coach, and each year I look forward to coaching both the Men's and Women's Diving teams in addition to the Varsity Water Polo team at the high school. Go Vikings!