roleofschoolcounselorinstudentachievement
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Partners in Achievement
The Integral Role of the School Counselor in
Student Achievement
Barbara Blackburn, MA, LPCWV Department of EducationCoordinator for School Counseling
Objectives
Understand the changing role of the school counselor
Understand the new school counseling policy Overview ASCA’s National Model, the
foundation for WV Policy 2315 Examine benefits of the school counseling
program Examine tools to help evaluate the school
counseling program Set school goals to move towards
implementation of Policy 2315
People have wondered…
What do school counselors DO?
School administrators, parents with special interests, teachers
or others may feel their agenda ought to be the school counseling
program’s priority. The results often lead to confusion and criticisms when they are disappointed.
(Carolyn Maddy Bernstein, 1995)
When schools fail to clearly define the counselor’s role...
What You Believe...
As a group write 3 job responsibilities that your table believes are the function of school counselors
Post your 3 job responsibilities on the chart paper under the appropriate area
Why Have A Program?
The school counseling program is an essential component of the educational experience of all students
School counseling programs work with the whole student and ties academics to career plans focusing on personal/social interests of individual students
The School Counseling Program…
Aligns with the mission of your school
Uses data to demonstrate the need for change
Focuses on improving student achievement
Connects the school counseling standards with the academic learning standards
Provides specific student competencies to achieve the school’s goals
Collaborates and teams with colleagues
WV’s Policy 2315 is aligned with ASCA’S National Model
A Framework for School Counselors
It is an organized way for school counselors to be able to do their jobs and better meet
the needs of ALL students
Student Success
ASCA National Model
Foundation
School Counseling Program Mission
To focus on academic, career and personal/social development to ensure that every student benefits from a program that is comprehensive in scope, preventative in design and developmental in nature.
are statements of what all studentsshould know and be able to do asresult of participating in a schoolcounseling program
ASCA’S National Standards
Academic DevelopmentStandard A. Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span
Standard B. Students will complete school with academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college
Standard C. Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work, and to life at home and in the community
Standard A. Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions
Standard B. Students will employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction
Standard C. Students understand the relationship between personal qualities, education , training, and the world of work
Career Development
Standard A. Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others
Standard B. Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals
Standard C. Students will understand safety and survival skills
Personal/Social Development
Management System
Management System Accountability Agreements Advisory Council Use of Data
• Monitoring Student Progress
• Closing the Gap Action Plans
• Guidance Curriculum• Closing the Gap
Use of Time Calendars Results Reports
• Impact Over Time School Counselor
Performance Evaluation
The Program Audit
Analyze School Data
WESTEST Scores ACT Scores (HS) Attendance data Drop out rate GPA’s or DFI Lists Course enrollment patterns Discipline referrals/suspensions Parent involvement
Disagg
rega
ting
your d
ata
deman
ds
atten
tion!
Work hand in had with administrators to look at the overall school data to guide our program:
Is Your Program Planned?
25%25% 75%75%
Role of School CounselorsPROGRAM MANAGEMENT Plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive
developmentally age-appropriate and sequential school counseling program
Oversee activities of clerical, paraprofessional and volunteer personnel related to the program
Coordinate with other stakeholders to plan delivery of programs
Delivery System
Guidance Curriculum
Consists of structured developmental lessons
Designed to assist students in achieving competencies
Presented systematically
Program delivered using a collaborative model
Role of School CounselorsGUIDANCE CURRICULUM Coordinate guidance curriculum in the domains of
academic, career and personal/social development for ALL students
Collaborate with teachers and community resources in the delivery of guidance related curriculum• Assure curriculum
• is delivered by most qualified professional• the most advance technology is integrated • developmentally appropriate• content is accurate• reflects current student needs
Role of School CounselorsASSESSMENT Interpret assessments, observations and other appraisal
results to students, parents and faculty
Utilize other sources of student data for assessment purposes
Help students make academic and career decisions based on assessment data• Deliver through classroom guidance lessons and in
individual sessions
Responsive Services
Services for student with a severe (or perceived serious) crisis are usually short term in nature
Activities to meet students’ immediate needs:• May be provided directly - Individual, group
counseling, classroom guidance• May be provided indirectly - through
consultation, peer facilitation, or outside referral
Responsive Services May address:
• Peer pressure
• Family relationships
• Grief and loss
• Child abuse
• Dropout prevention
• Dating relationships
• Bullying
• Harassment
• Conflict resolution
• Personal identity issues
• Suicide and accidents
• Attendance problems
• Motivation and achievement issues
• Substance Abuse• Eating Disorders• Self Mutilation
Role of School CounselorsRESPONSIVE SERVICES
May act as a facilitator between school/student and resources agency
May facilitate or serve on a school/community crisis response team
May deliver direct services to students though individual or group counseling or classroom guidance
Individual Planning with Students
Activities coordinated by counselors that assist students in developing personal goals and future plans: Academic/career/personal/goal setting
• Five Year Academic Plans• Career planning (30 year Plan in 5 year increments)• Post Secondary Plans• Interpretation of and application of
assessment information• Parental and school staff involvement
Role of School CounselorsCOUNSELING Individual students
Small groups of students
Guide individuals and groups of students in developing academic, career and personal/social plans
Brief…. NOT therapy
Referrals to appropriate specialists
System Support System support includes activities that establish,
maintain and enhance the total school counseling program:• Professional development• Consultation• Coordination
• Advisor/Advisee Programs, etc.• Career/College/Postsecondary Programs• Arena Scheduling• Senior Projects/Portfolios/Interview Expositions• Scheduling
• Collaboration and teaming• Data analysis and interpretation• School improvement plan development and implementation
Role of School CounselorsPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pursue continuous professional development
Collaborate with other counselors and other staff to deliver professional development to school staff
Membership and leadership in counseling related professional organizations is strongly recommended
Maintain a professional library
Read and do research to remain up to date on current trends and issues
Delivery System
Elementary Middle High SchoolGuidance Curriculum 35-45% 25-35% 15-25%Individual Planning 5-10% 15-25% 25-35%Responsive Services 30-40% 30-40% 25-35%System Support 10-15% 10-15% 15-20%
Accountability
Use of Data
Analyze and use data to examine and improve student outcomes
Establish and assess measurable outcomes for counseling programs
Connect the school counseling standards with the academic learning standards
Identify specific student competencies to achieve your school’s goals
Use school-based data to support decision making
Use data from surveys, interview, focus groups, and needs assessments to address student needs
The old question was…
“What do counselors do?”
The new question is…
“How are students different because of the school counseling program?
From Entitlement… to Performance
From a program that: Focuses generally on
the number of activities
Measures the amount of effort
Attends to the process of doing work
Works to maintain the existing system
To a program that: Focuses on outcomes
and improved results Measures impact related
to goals Attends to goals,
objectives, and outcomes
Changes and adapts to be more responsive
Source: McGowen, P. & Miller, J., “Changing the Entitlement Culture,” The American School Board Journal, August 1999, p.43
From Entitlement… to Performance
From counselors who: Focus on good
intentions Talk about how hard
they work Generally feel little need
to change their behavior or approach
To counselors who: Focus on
accomplishments Talk about effectiveness Know their future rests
on accomplishments Communicate goals and
objective
Source: McGowen, P. & Miller, J., “Changing the Entitlement Culture,” The American School Board Journal, August 1999, p.43
What Will The Results Be?
Every student will benefit from the school counseling program
Every student will acquire attitudes, knowledge and skills as a result of the nine standards and competencies
Every student will be better prepared for transitions from grade to grade and to life after high school
Counselor's Role
AdvocacyAdvocacy LeadershipLeadership
CollaborationCollaborationSystemic Systemic ChangeChange
Advocacy is…
1. Identifying unmet needs and making a commitment to changing the status quo
2. Pleading for the rights of another3. Pursuing a cause beyond oneself4. Actively supporting others who cannot
support themselves5. Being a risk taker for others
(Bailey et al., 2003; Eriksen, 1997; Fiedler, 2000)
Systemic Change… Bill Shore
“We tend to think that creating change requires an array of external resources and support: acts of Congress, great sums of money, large standing armies, technology, vast research capabilities or powerful lobbyists, relationships and networks.
Systemic Change… Bill Shore
Of course, all have their place, But often, the most sweeping change results form a single individual with none of those at his or her command, but instead with the courage to follow his or her conscience.”
Leadership & Systemic Change
School Counselors are trained to work as leaders along side administrators to make SYSTEMIC change necessary to facilitate programs to create success for ALL students
School Counselors’ professional development allows them to come back and lead change within the SCHOOL SYSTEM
(example - Anti-Bullying Programs)
Role of School CounselorsCOLLABORATION Collaborates with school and community to bring
resources to students
Utilize the referral processes to assist students and others to access special programs and services
Provides and exchanges information with staff, family and community
Use staff, community resources and parents to plan, deliver and implement new programs
Collaboration Effective Working Relationships with:
Teachers Parents & Guardians Colleges Other Post Secondary
Institutions Advisory Teams
Administrators Community School Business
Partners Military Agencies
Leadership
School Counselors are trained to work as a leaders along side administrators to make SYSTEMIC change necessary to facilitate programs to create success for ALL students
School Counselors professional development allows them to come back and lead change within the school
Benefits for School
Provides a team effort to address students’ needs
Provides program structure with specific content
Promotes academic, career and personal development with core curriculum
Benefits for Administrators
Integrates school counseling with the academic mission of the school
Uses school data to help guide change and school-wide programs
Helps advance student achievement Provides a program structure with specific content Assists administration to use school counselors
effectively to enhance learning and development for all students
Provides a means of evaluating school counseling programs
Benefits for Teachers Provides an interdisciplinary team effort to
address students’ needs and educational goals Provides skill development for teachers in
classroom management, teaching effectiveness and affective education
Provides consultation to assist teachers in their guidance role
Fewer behavioral issues when all students are given the same skills
Barriers to learning are decreased for many students and teachers can focus more on instruction
Benefits for Students Prepares students for the challenges of the 21st
Century through academic, career and personal/social development
Relates educational program to future success Facilitates career exploration and development Develops decision-making and problem-solving
skills Assists in acquiring knowledge of self and others Enhances personal development Improves academic achievement
Benefits for Students Cont’d Assists in developing effective interpersonal
relationship skills Broadens knowledge of our changing world Provides advocacy for students Encourages facilitative, cooperative peer
interaction Fosters resiliency factors for students Assures equitable access to educational
opportunities
Benefits for Parents
Provides support for parents in advocating for their child’s academic, career and personal/social development
Involves parents in their child’s long-range planning
and learning
Increases opportunities for parent/school interaction
Enables parents to have access to school and community resources
Benefits for School Counselors
Provides clearly defined role and function Eliminates non-counseling related functions Allows direct access to all students Creates a tool for program management and
accountability Enhances the role for the school counselor as a
student advocate Ensures involvement in the academic mission of
the school Uses collaboration to assure delivery of school
counseling programs to all students.
Margaret Mead
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
Questions and Comments
Contact Information
Barbara Brady Blackburn, MA, LPCSchool Counseling CoordinatorWV Department of EducationBldg. 6, Room 2211900 Kanawha Blvd. EastCharleston, WV 25305-0330Phone: 304-558-2348 Fax: [email protected]