Role of the School Counselor

 School counselors are licensed professional educators who are specially trained in counseling interventions, theories, and techniques. School counselors - as an integral part of the school's total education program - work with students, teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders to help students become responsible and productive citizens. School counselors promote educational success, interpersonal skills, and self understanding. Students are educated in decision making, problem solving, goal setting, self-esteem, environmental concerns and educational and occupational opportunities. The school counselor helps create, organize and implement the comprehensive, developmental school counseling program.

As an integral part of the school counseling program's effort, the Elementary School Counselor extends a hand to ALL students, not just the problem or troubled child. The school counseling program supports and complements the efforts of the classroom teacher to facilitate your child's learning.

· Understanding of self and confidence in daily interactions.

· Positive attitudes toward self, family and community.

· Communication skills in relationships with peers, family, neighbors and school staff.

· Motivation for success in school and community activities.

· Decision making skills involving exploration of alternatives and realization of consequences.

· Career awareness for future planning.

· Emotionally healthy school learning climate.

· Cooperation between home and school.

· Community resource programs for students, family and school personnel.

· Individually and in groups with their concerns, plans, goals and achievements.        

· Understand themselves and others to strengthen cooperation and interactions.

· Learn decision making and interpersonal skills.

· Model and practice positive Life Skills at school, home, and in the community.

· Learn more about their child's growth and development.

· Encourage a home atmosphere for emotional security and personal growth.

· Participate in parent education to further enhance parent-child relationships.

· To appreciate their child's abilities, limitations, and progress in school.

· Increase in knowledge and skills by sharing information.

· Understand the students and their behavior.

· Create a positive learning climate and personalized curriculum.

· Coordinate classroom guidance activities for greater understanding of self and others.

· Conduct consultations concerning students' needs.

School counselors help students, parents and teachers through the following program services...

Responsive Services (30-40 %)
Personal Counseling
Crisis Counseling
Small Groups (study skills, divorce, grief, etc.)
Support Team Coordinator
504 Coordinator

Guidance Curriculum (35-45%)
Classroom Guidance (Life Skills classes)
Large Group Activities (plays, assemblies)
Monthly Newsletters

System Support (10-12%)
Professional development
Staff and Community Relations
Parent Education

Individual Planning (5-10%)
Individual Assessment
Test Interpretation