Transitioning Into the Field of School Counseling The Transformed School Counselor Chapter 15 ©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for.

Transitioning Into the Field of School Counseling

The Transformed School CounselorThe Transformed School Counselor

Chapter 15Chapter 15

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of copyright laws.

Act as a counselor, advocate, leader, collaborator, and consultant to maximize opportunities for students to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.

Strive to develop in all students ambitious goals and a commitment to achievement.

Become a steward of equity; be able to use data to recognize institutional and environmental barriers that impede student success.

Provide all students with academic and career advising. Become an effective manager of resources.

Envisioning Your Future


Planning for Your Success

Before you begin your new job, spend as Before you begin your new job, spend as much time as you can learning about the much time as you can learning about the physical, structural, academic, and social physical, structural, academic, and social climate of the school, starting with the climate of the school, starting with the community in which it is situated.community in which it is situated.


Learning About the Home and Community Environment Physically place yourself in your students’ neighborhoods. Ask questions of faculty and community members about

the range of socioeconomic levels in the community and parental involvement.

Learn about stressors and support systems of your school’s families.

Community StandardsCommunity Standards You will need to know the community and institutional

standards to discern how to behave ethically in the particular environment.


Learning About the School Environment Determine the nature of the school environment. Ask questions such as: What is the working climate?

Is there a sense of camaraderie? Which departments are functioning well?

Leadership and the Power StructureLeadership and the Power Structure Where is the power base for decision making? Who are the formal leaders? How are school counselors involved? The informal power base – Who are the teachers who

wield the greatest influence among other faculty?©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of

copyright laws.

Learning About the School EnvironmentCulture and Beliefs of Administration and FacultyCulture and Beliefs of Administration and Faculty What are their beliefs about student learning? Ask questions about how students are disciplined in your

school to see if there is a disciplinary plan in place. Observe how teachers interact with students.

The StudentsThe Students Student morale is an aspect of school climate. Are the students engaged, enthusiastic, positive, and

motivated? Ask students what they think of their school and their

school counseling program.©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of

copyright laws.

Learning About the School EnvironmentCurriculum/Instruction and Student SupportCurriculum/Instruction and Student Support Learn as much as you can about the school’s curriculum

offerings, the special education program, and all support systems in place for struggling students.


Heading Toward Success Organizing Your Physical Environment Set yourself up early in a comfortable arrangement

for the year. Place your furniture with attention to traffic

patterns. Have a space that allows you and students to be

comfortable and in close proximity to each other without a desk or barrier between you.


Heading Toward Success Organizing Your Time

Weekly, monthly and yearly calendars can be a support.

Establish a weekly calendar and place it on your door to establish a feeling of being in control of your time and job assignments.


Heading Toward Success Organizing Your Resources Ideally your equipment will include: Computers for you and the students A phone with multiple phone lines A copy machine A fax machine

Be resourceful and seek support from business people and others to help meet equipment needs.


Heading Toward Success Organizing Your Data Sources

Study your school’s report card data as early as possible.

The principal is usually a great resource for finding data information.


Heading Toward Success Organizing Your Support System Many school systems assign new counselors a

buddy or mentor.

If your school system does not have a formal mentor program, find someone to support you.

Orchestrate success for yourself.

Outside of school, find a person with whom you can share all your frustrations.


Ensuring Your SuccessPut the mechanisms in place for developing your Put the mechanisms in place for developing your professional skills and knowledge, maintaining your professional skills and knowledge, maintaining your energy, and building relationships that will support energy, and building relationships that will support you in all your efforts at building a successful you in all your efforts at building a successful program.program.


Ensuring Your Success Professional Development Professional organizations offer support and can

help you increase your professionalism in the field.

Professional organizations such as the ASCA also provide informative publications and discussion lists as part of your membership.

District-level in-services, regional workshops, and summer institutes are a few ways you can grow your professionalism.


Ensuring Your Success Management Agreement

Create a management agreement to keep your Create a management agreement to keep your goals in line with what your co-counselors and goals in line with what your co-counselors and administrators see you doing.administrators see you doing.

Include the percentage of time designated to each Include the percentage of time designated to each of the four areas of the delivery system.of the four areas of the delivery system.


Ensuring Your Success Practicing Wellness In schools there can be unhealthy people, toxic

environments, and other drains on a school counselor’s emotional well-being.

Find outlets and ways to renew your spirit, and seek opportunities to use them regularly.


Ensuring Your Success Professional Comportment Behave in a professional manner at all times.

Set boundaries, develop coping skills, and keep whatever comes your way in perspective.

Build and protect your relationships.

Respect the experience of others and share your knowledge.


Ensuring Your Success Maintaining Your Professional Commitments

Stay Passionate About AdvocacyStay Passionate About Advocacy Expect support, praise, and ridicule at varying times.

Remember that the alternative to making waves is allowing some students to be left out of the success picture.

Support the Instructional ProgramSupport the Instructional Program Think of new ways to implement strategies to support

teaching and learning.

Send the message that you respect the tough job teachers have and that you are there to support their efforts.


Laying the Foundation for Your School Counseling Program Prepare a Mission Statement Align the mission of the school counseling

program with the school’s mission. Print out and display your mission statement to

serve two purposes: It will provide you with transparency, letting

everyone know what you stand for and what you hope to accomplish

It will keep you focused by reminding you every day of what you stand for and what you wish to accomplish.


Laying the Foundation for Your School Counseling Program Start Building a Belief System

What we believe, what we hold true about students, families, teachers, and the educational process, drives our ability to support success for every student.

Our beliefs are derived from our background and experience.


Laying the Foundation for Your School Counseling Program Begin Building Your Team Identify a team that can help to implement your

program.

The core team members include administrators, teachers, student service personnel, parents, students, and business and community representatives.


Laying the Foundation for Your School Counseling Program Making the Shift to a Comprehensive, Transformed School Counseling Program Move toward a collaborative effort in which key

players will analyze existing practices.

Determine to what degree comprehensive school counseling is in place and clearly identify aspects of a comprehensive model that need to be implemented.


One Year Later: Envisioning Your Transformed School Counseling Program The ASCA model forms the foundation of your program,

supports the mission of your school, and provides the direction as to how every student will benefit from the school counseling program.

The implementation team has determined a mission statement, philosophy, and guiding beliefs.

The team has identified an appropriate delivery system and parents, students, teachers, and support staff are aware of their roles within the delivery system.


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