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Successful counselors have a plan. Here are a few guidelines for ensuring your success as a school counselor, even if your student to counselor ratio is high. 1. Follow the ASCA National Model. Even if your district doesn’t have its own written model, use the National Model as a guide. It will provide the framework for the program and it validates the importance of school counselors nationwide. It is important to emphasize the program and not the position. Positions can be easily cut, but it is more difficult to cut a program. 2. Take part of the National Model that you can realistically implement. Maybe you can only teach part of the Standards or maybe you can’t do any individual counseling, only groups. Whatever you decide (try to get principal input), make sure it fits the most important needs of the students and then do that REALLY, REALLY well. When you are asked to do the other parts of the program, just reply that with the current staffing those activities are not possible, but maybe in the future. In other words, prioritize and don’t try to be everything to everyone. 3. That leads to the next one: Have a VISION for the counseling program; K-12 preferably. School Counselors need to know and visualize where they are heading before they can advocate for additional staff, facilities, budget, etc. 4. Be a positive role model for students and staff. 5. Be visible — be out on campus when the students are, eat lunch with the teachers, attend meetings. You may need be selective due to a high student-to-counselor ratio, but do your best to integrate with the staff. It is important for counselors to know the climate of their school. You can learn a lot by observing. 6. Set high, but realistic standards for yourself and the program. Make yourself invaluable by insuring that you devote your time to true counselor activities that require a professional. Check the ASCA National Model for more information. 7. Develop a team relationship with the teachers. You are also an educator and you can assist them when you help the students. Many schools have added counselors because the teachers requested them! Those teachers realized the value of a school counselor in assisting with student achievement. Teachers can be great advocates for school counselors. 8. This will be difficult with your time constraints, but try to produce a one-page newsletter to the staff that outlines what activities you are involved in at the school. Post a calendar of your hours and your activities (i.e. when you will be teaching a lesson, when you are leading a group). If those are too much to start with, then try to write a brief article for the principal’s or the PTO’s newsletter. If time permits, you could research a topic and write a brief summary (i.e. homework, holiday stress, healthy eating, etc.). 9. Produce an End of the Year Report to the Superintendent and Governing Board. Depending on the size of your district, try to get on the agenda to present the highlights of the year. It’s important to be visible to the policy makers. Some districts have added counselors at the request of Board Members (my district experienced this). 10. Stay on the cutting edge by continuing membership in professional school counselor organizations, reading journal articles, and attending workshops and conferences. Ask permission to share what you have learned with the staff or parents. There is no reason to keep all that great information with you. You will be empowering others and you will be seen as a valuable asset to your school. 11. Work on the Results Reports, Closing the Gap Reports and Impact Over Time Reports. Even if you can just do one of each, give it a shot. This will provide your district with the data they might be looking for. This will also help demonstrate how school counselors are an integral part of improving student achievement. 12. Be ACCOUNTABLE. Develop and use a system for tracking what you do throughout the day. Most principals and policy makers are surprised by the volume and broad scope of activities school counselors are involved in. SCAATAP makes this task almost effortless. 13. Grants are somewhat difficult to locate and write, but ask around. Check with your State Counselor Association, check with your principal, check the internet, check with ASCA. If you receive a grant, it is important to develop a plan for the district to have capacity to continue with the staffing after the grant money is gone. 14. And above all, stay healthy. Take care of yourself. You will not be able to assist students and staff if you are not physically, emotionally and spiritually at the top of your game. Spend time with family and friends. Keep your life balanced. Kim Holaway, M. Ed. - 2003 |
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Copyright 2003 by David N. Dresser and Kim Holaway |
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