new school counselors

14 Tips for New School Counselors 1 Find a mentor school counselor. The South Dakota School Counselor Association offers a mentoring program to members. Visit sdschoolcounselors.com for more information. 2 Visit with your administrator to discuss expectations. Get a feel for his/her vision for the school and understanding of your role. Discuss your responsibilities for the school year. 3 Complete the Annual Administrator Conference. This makes sure you are both 'on the same page' for your counseling program's goals. Visit the ASCA National Model Templates & Resources to access the form. 4 Gather and collect data. Gather data to understand your school's strengths and areas for growth, such as achievement data. Collect data on perceived needs through needs assessments. 5 Prepare introductory materials. Create a brochure, presentation, and/or web site to introduce yourself and the role of the school counselor to parents, teachers, students and the community. 6 Present "Meet the Counselor" lessons. Present about your role as a school counselor to every class. Educate teachers on your role and meet with parents to explain what you do. 7 Become familiar with the ASCA National Model. Utilize the ASCA National Model, 4th Edition to implement your own school counseling program. Find implementation templates at the ASCA National Model Templates & Resources page. 8 Avoid the therapy trap. Explain that school counselors do not provide long-term therapy. ASCA's web site has resources on school counselor roles, duties and competencies. 9 Complete a yearly calendar of activities. Update this yearly to have a roadmap of your plans for the school year. Visit the https://doe.sd.gov/cte/counselors.a spx to view a calendar template. 10 Track your time. A use of time assessment will show how much time you spend on direct and indirect student services. Visit the ASCA National Model Templates & Resources to access a Use-of-Time Calculator. 11 Establish an advisory council. This group should meet at least twice a year and is valuable to assist in validating and advocating for your program. Visit the ASCA National Model Templates & Resources for advisory council templates. 12 Plan your professional development. Consider which conferences, workshops, webinars, etc. you plan to attend for the school year to keep up with pertinent topics. 13 Join professional associations. A few to consider are: South Dakota School Counselor Association (SDSCA), South Dakota Counseling Association (SDCA), and American School Counselor Association (ASCA). 14 Practice self care. The first year can be stressful! Don't forget to take care of yourself. 'Practice what you preach', utilizing self-care strategies. Make a colorful start to a successful first year! References: Davis, P., Cooper, L., & Gay, J. (2018). Tools for new counselors. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from 2018 ASCA Conference. 20 essential tools for new school counselors. (n.d.). Retrieved from 2018 ASCA Conference.

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14 Tips forNew School Counselors

1 Find a mentor schoolcounselor.

The South Dakota SchoolCounselor Association offers amentoring program to members.

Visit sdschoolcounselors.com formore information.

2 Visit with youradministrator todiscuss expectations.

Get a feel for his/her vision forthe school and understanding ofyour role.

Discuss your responsibilities for theschool year.

3Complete theAnnual AdministratorConference.

This makes sure you are both 'onthe same page' for yourcounseling program's goals.

Visit the ASCA National ModelTemplates & Resources to accessthe form.

4 Gather and collectdata.

Gather data to understand yourschool's strengths and areas forgrowth, such as achievementdata.

Collect data on perceived needsthrough needs assessments.

5 Prepare introductorymaterials.

Create a brochure, presentation,and/or web site to introduceyourself and the role of the schoolcounselor to parents, teachers,students and the community.

6 Present "Meet theCounselor" lessons.

Present about your role as aschool counselor to every class.

Educate teachers on your roleand meet with parents to explainwhat you do.

7 Become familiarwith the ASCANational Model.

Utilize the ASCA National Model,4th Edition to implement yourown school counseling program.

Find implementation templates atthe ASCA National ModelTemplates & Resources page.

8 Avoid the therapytrap.

Explain that school counselors donot provide long-term therapy.

ASCA's web site has resources onschool counselor roles, duties andcompetencies.

9 Complete a yearlycalendar ofactivities.

Update this yearly to have aroadmap of your plans for theschool year.

Visit thehttps://doe.sd.gov/cte/counselors.aspx to view a calendar template.

10 Track your time.

A use of time assessment willshow how much time you spendon direct and indirect studentservices.

Visit the ASCA National ModelTemplates & Resources to accessa Use-of-Time Calculator.

11 Establish an advisorycouncil.

This group should meet at leasttwice a year and is valuable toassist in validating andadvocating for your program.

Visit the ASCA National ModelTemplates & Resources foradvisory council templates.

12 Plan yourprofessionaldevelopment.

Consider which conferences,workshops, webinars, etc. youplan to attend for the school yearto keep up with pertinent topics.

13 Join professionalassociations.

A few to consider are:South Dakota School CounselorAssociation (SDSCA), South DakotaCounseling Association (SDCA),and American School CounselorAssociation (ASCA).

14 Practice self care.

The first year can be stressful!Don't forget to take care ofyourself.

'Practice what you preach',utilizing self-care strategies.

Make a colorful start to a successful first year!

References:Davis, P., Cooper, L., & Gay, J. (2018). Tools for new counselors. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from 2018 ASCA Conference.20 essential tools for new school counselors. (n.d.). Retrieved from 2018 ASCA Conference.

http://www.sdschoolcounselors.com/sdsca-mentoring-program.html

https://schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/ASCA-National-Model-for-School-Counseling-Programs/Templates-Resources

https://schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/ASCA-National-Model-for-School-Counseling-Programs

https://schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/School-Counselor-Roles-Ratios

https://doe.sd.gov/cte/counselors.aspx

https://schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/ASCA-National-Model-for-School-Counseling-Programs/Templates-Resources

http://doe.sd.gov/

http://www.sdschoolcounselors.com/

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