Placing Students First - Louisiana Counseling - Counselor...Your Perception •Future Principals – First word that comes to mind regarding the role of the Professional School Counselor

Placing Students First

Where There Is A Will

There Is A Way!

Team Montegut!!!

Coach Kelly Dupre Principal

Montegut Middle School TPSD – 17 yrs.

Administrator – 2 years

Team Player Jennifer Degruise Professional School Counselor

Montegut Middle School TPSD – 9 yrs. PSC – 5 years

We communicate everyday, throughout the day!

We make many decisions regarding student welfare together!

We are a team!

“We’re on the same page. We’re in the same book.

The student achievement, the student success, is that book.”

Cullen Porter

PSC Jefferson County High School

Understanding the Crowd

Who’s in the room?

Your Perception

• Future Principals – First word that comes to mind regarding the role of the Professional School Counselor

• Future Counselors - First word that comes to mind regarding the role of the School Counselor

• Are the perspectives of the Counselor role different? Same?

• What has been your personal experience with the role of the Professional School Counselor?

Let’s Hear It…

• Why are you in this room today?

• What are you hoping to gain?

• What are the obstacles you currently face in your relationship with your Administrators?

• What do they expect of you? What is your current role as a School Counselor?

• Does your Administration understand what your role as a PSC should look like? 1-10 scale

Why are we here?

• To help Administrators understand the importance of allowing

future PSC’s to provide a comprehensive school counseling program

• For Counselors and Student Interns to understand the importance of a data driven comprehensive program

• To show you how a positive working relationship between a Principal and Professional School Counselor (PSC) can benefit students and the school community on many different levels

• To discuss barriers between many current working Principal –

Counselor relationships…Hopefully, eliminating these barriers in the future!

TODAY’S GAME PLAN… *Discuss/Change the preconceived concept of the role of the School Counselor *Understand the difference between a Guidance Counselor and a Professional School Counselor (PSC) *Review of the American School Counselor Association Model *Understand how the Model, when used with fidelity, can answer the question, “How are students different as a result of what Counselors do?” *Share ways to build a better relationship between Principals and PSC’s *Discuss ways to overcome existing Principal – PSC relationship obstacles

Arm Activity

Jenn’s Initial Play Book

Cumulative Folder Sitter

12-15 Counseling Slips a Day

All Alone After Three Overwhelming Months!

Just Treading Water…Doing What I’m Told To Do!

2014-15 Obstacles

two schools / two Principals / trying to maintain two proactive Counseling

Programs

= not enough time to get it all

done effectively

Reactive vs. Proactive

Putting Out Fires Comprehensive Service

Evaluation and Accountability / Systemic Change

November

2011…No Mora

Excuses! Advocating for PSC services and proactive

programs became the focus! school - district - state

“The main thing is core beliefs:

Children first, whatever it takes!”

Molly Howard

Principal

Jefferson County High School

Understanding the Louisiana School Counseling Model

Needed School Counseling Changes

(ASCA, 2002)

From Counselors who: To Counselors who:

Focus on good intentions.

Focus on accomplishments.

Talk about how hard they work. Talk about effectiveness.

Generally feel little need to change

their behavior or approach.

Know that their future rests on

continuous improvement.

Use intuition to design programs

and interventions.

Use data to design and evaluate

programs and interventions.

Survey Conducted - 2008

The College Board Advocacy Office, American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

and National Association of Secondary School

Principals (NASSP)

Responses From:

343 Principals 1,957 School Counselors

4 Important Aspects of An Effective Principal and Counselor Relationship 1. Communication – opportunities to share ideas, information and for developing school wide strategies to improve student outcomes 2. Collaboration – shared participation and contribution in decision making and the development and implementation of student and school wide strategies to improve student outcomes 3. Respect – an environment where the Principal’s and PSC’s work and opinions are supported and valued 4. Shared Vision – a mutually agreed upon direction and ideal for student success ***Communication and respect were agreed upon by both to be the most important for improving student outcomes.

Principals mentioned a greater need for quality of communication while PSC’s mentioned a greater need for

frequency of communication!

(Scheduled, formal communication is imperative! – every Monday @ 9:00 am)

Both want to see students succeed!

What are the greatest barriers to effective collaboration and a positive working relationship between

Counselors and Principals? (Principal Perspective)

• State and local budget cuts – reduction in staff • “This Is the way it has always been done before” philosophy • Focus on academics – LEAP / iLEAP • Not aware of Counselor’s impact on student’s academic achievement • Too much to do/Lack of Time to meet regularly and collaborate *********** • Finding time without interruption • Not educated on the Model/Proactive role of the PSC • Lack of shared decision making or vision for student success (voted high for importance) • Counselors who prefer or are required/Allowed to have paper related duties – Glorified

record keepers/Counselors not used properly/Lack of willingness to change • Counselors who are unaware of the Model or uncertain as to how to implement it • Lack of trust • Lack of respect for Principal goals and vision (voted high for importance) -College Board, ASCA, NAASP- -

What are the greatest barriers to effective collaboration and a positive working relationship between Counselors and

Principals? (PSC Perspective)

• Too much to do/Lack of time to do It all *************

• No or not enough collaboration

• A lack of understanding of the issues that both face in their positions

• Lack of shared decision making or shared vision for student success (through formal, scheduled, weekly meetings)

• Invalidation of feelings or beliefs

• Principal does not understand the role of the Counselor/Don’t see the capabilities and potential of PSC

• A major need for mutual trust and personal respect for self and expertise (voted high for importance)

-College Board, ASCA, NAASP-

“Building trust first starts with you having a relationship, to really understand who you are, what your vision is, what your philosophy is, and why that’s important. Ultimately though, it’s important to have

the accountability of a particular outcome.”

Elizabeth Kirby

Principal Kenwood Academy

Principal – Counselor Toolbox Table of Contents

http://nosca.collegeboard.org/research-policies/principal-counselor-toolkit

Taking One Step Forward: A Self- Assessment Tool

School Counselor Self Assessment: Leadership

Principal Self Assessment: Leadership

Leadership Styles For Principals

Developing Vision and Mission Statements

School Counselor Strategic Planning Tool

True or False:

Primary Role of the Principal

To Be a Leader

Primary Role of the Counselor To Be an Advocate

Answer: It should be both! Principals and Counselors should

place students first …PERIOD! Both should serve as leaders in the school community and advocates for students, student achievement and proactive services that benefit

the entire school community.

The Following Slides Suggest Proactive Ways That Help to Build a

Positive Principal-Counselor Relationship

YOU have to want to see a difference!

YOU have to be willing to do things differently and accept change!

YOU have to be pleasantly persistent!

YOU have to be able to assess the needs of

the school!

YOU may find that compromise is the great start to a winning team!

Principal-Counselor Agreement

Rid PSC’s of non-counselor related duties. See their value!

Let them work with students as they were taught!

Proactivity leads to success!

Include PSC’s in Leadership Team Meetings

• Envision PSC’s as an integral part of the Team…not a separate department or entity.

• Set aside structured, formal meeting times each week to collaborate.

• Open door policy

Presence is important and builds relationships! Counselors should

advocate to be visible and Principals should require it!

Jennifer B. Degruise

PSC Montegut Middle School

Life/Social Skills

Classroom Rotation Schedule -Classroom vs. PE-

-We are NOT disciplinarians, and should not be expected to act as such!-

-Career, academic and personal/social lessons can be infused into the curriculum, but the teacher needs to be present to

integrate instruction.-

If children are depressed, upset or in distress, they will not be able to focus, learn or perform to their best ability, until they work through their issues.

Weekly Schedule (emailed to school community)

Weekly Log (signed by Principal each week)

Conduct and Share Data, Data, Data!

It’s Hard to Dispute Your Value and Worth When Data Is

Available!

There are three types of data to help you evaluate your program:

process, perception and outcome/results data

*Process Data: What did you do for whom? / your method

-Held a six-session counseling group with 10 fourth-grade students on building positive peer relationships

-1,350 sixth- to eighth-grade students participated in violence prevention classroom lessons

-250 parents attended a career planning event

-1975 students completed the course selection process

*Perception Data: What do people think they know, believe or can do? / people’s perception -pre-post surveys demonstrating competency achievement, tests or skill demonstration opportunities such as presentations or role play, surveys or evaluation forms

*Outcome/Results data: “So what?” / This type of data shows if your program has had a positive impact on students’ ability to utilize their knowledge, attitudes and skills to effect improvement in achievement and behavior.

-promotion rates, attendance rates, number of discipline referrals, grade-point averages, student graduation rates, etc.

“It really was a lot of people working really hard

to help kids, but not realizing what was happening.

Once they saw the data, once they heard it

explained, they understood what was going on.”

Laura Newton

PSC

T.C. Williams High School

Pre and Post Tests,

Needs Assessments,

Periodic Review of Discipline, Academic and Attendance Reports

(Share Findings and Build Programs/Services From Your Findings)

Compass Evaluation Rubric

and SLTs If we are SBLC Chair, Testing Coordinator, Master Scheduler, etc…we are not able to work directly with students, collect data for accountability or meet the requirements of our evaluations.

Be prepared that Plan A might not work.

In fact, expect it.

Understand that Plan C or D might be the answer

or the compromise. Try, try, and try again.

Take baby steps. Rome was not built in a day.

Remember, it takes three to five years to implement a Comprehensive School Counseling Program.

WORDS of WISDOM Jennifer Curry , PhD

2013-14 Louisiana School Counselor Association (LSCA) President 1. It is important to always have structured, formal meeting times. THIS IS EVIDENCED

BASED PRACTICE. Not just waiting to see if the counselor drops in with a question or informally discussing issues as they arise. You should have set aside time each week that the administrative and counseling teams meet and discuss formally issues that are happening, projects that are coming up, goals/objectives, concerns, etc.

2. Counselor and Principal co-planning time is also critical. Although they have unique roles, they need to have specific time in which they plan major initiatives that they will be working toward in the school such as strategic planning, faculty inservices, PLC’s, parent workshops, etc. 3. Principals need to recognize that Counselors do need specific support (particularly beginning counselors) for ongoing skill development (particularly clinical skills), professional development (Please send your Counselors to workshops and training!) and that they need time with other counselors!!!

Copyright © 2000 Shannon Spaunburg

Life is a journey filled with lessons, hardships, heartaches, joys, celebrations and special moments that will ultimately lead us to our destination, our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth; in fact, throughout our travels, we will encounter many

challenges.

How we react to what we are faced with determines what kind of outcome the rest of our journey through life will be like.

Know when your journey may need to travel a different road. This new road may be the path to greater success in placing students first!

Never give up. Just take a “New Administration” detour!

When you have tried everything and no such luck, remember this…

My Role and Responsibilities at MMS • Met with Administrators to understand their

expectations of my role at MMS • Completed a needs assessment / Periodic review

of behavior, academic and attendance reports / SLT’s / Evaluations / Feedback at team meetings

• No non-Counselor related responsibilities • A comprehensive program: - Life Skills Classroom Lessons (1 day per week at MMS/1 day at PAC Elementary), Student of the Month, Employee of the Month, Positive Postcards Home, Student Council, Pause and Be Positive, Girls Self-Esteem Program, Small Groups, School Transitions, Individual Counseling, Parent Nights, quarterly PLC’S, recesses, lunches, busses - Advocate on School, District, and State Level

COMMUNICATE!

COLLABORATE!

ADVOCATE!

(emails, formal meetings, prompt-to meetings)

We even text often!

Build a working friendship built on respect and trust!

BRAINSTORM:

What are some existing or new ideas/ideas you may have learned

today, regarding building the Principal – Counselor Relationship?

What can you do to avoid or

overcome obstacles?

Take a Minute…

Write down 2-3 goals/initial steps you plan to implement to help improve your current

Principal/Counselor relationship.

Please, share your thoughts!!!

So…Who Does What at MMS?

• Testing Coordinator – Computer Lab Teacher and a Sixth Grade Teacher

• Master Scheduler – Principal

• SBLC/SAT Chairperson – 6th Grade Teacher

• Proactive “Go Getter” – Me!!!

My Principal and I feel the same “heartbeat” of our school.

She not only wants my help, she actively seeks my services

and expertise. We share the same work ethic. Through

open communication and collaboration, respect for me and

my responsibilities, trust (and lots of laughter), we are an

unbeatable team. We can accomplish anything, ensuring

student achievement and a positive school culture and

climate. I am extremely fortunate to work with my

Principal everyday!

TOUCHDOWN!!!

Kelly Dupre [email protected]

Jennifer Degruise [email protected]

Thanks for listening and sharing your ideas!

We wish you the best in building a

positive Principal – Counselor relationship!