The Effectiveness of School Counselors There it is the second week of May, where all the students start to tremble about how they're going to get through their AP classes and wondering if they're gonna live past finals week to be able to graduate. Throughout the chaos the only ones who are sure that their senior class is on track and ready to graduate are the counselors. Who unlike teachers have been almost like a guardian angel who have watched over and been able to guide students throughout their high school career. They spent the last four years keeping a steady watch over the students and preparing the students for their lives after school. Unlike the teachers who just interact with hundreds of students, the counselors get to watch the …show more content…
Students who interact with their counselors starting freshman year instead of just junior and senior year have a better chance of achieving in school and going on to college. "Early counseling is important for students and families in that it addresses a deficiency in the college access continuum for many students, particularly low-income students and students who would be the first in their family to attend college,” (Hawkins). David Hawkins who is the NACAC's director of public policy and research simply says that getting interaction with the school counselor early in high school especially with families who fall short of college access, then low income families think that college for their students is out of reach whether its academically or financially. The problem is where there are schools that have counseling programs more established than others,whether they’re in a wealthy community or private schools. “However, as college readiness becomes more of a focus for school reform efforts, we are seeing a greater emphasis on college counseling in schools serving underrepresented populations." (Hawkins). Hawkins says that even in the not as wealthy schools we’re starting to see a big push on college counseling and preparing for …show more content…
The second action is provide access to college counseling and counselors by maintaining or increasing counseling staff level and improving the student-to-counselor ratio. Simply putting it if a counselor is frequently available to the students, increases a student’s chance of enrolling in a four-year college, and if students, parents, and counselors work together and communicate clearly, students’ chances of enrolling in college significantly increases. The NACAC estimates that under current ratios and current time on task allotments, students in public schools can expect less than an hour of postsecondary education counseling during the entire school year, which can become a problem. Which brings in action three and that is refining the counselor roles and responsibilities to ensure that
In this research paper there will be a discussion on how effective school counseling programs are in school. The reason this topic is being researched is because questions have come up asking whether or not school counseling programs are helping the students and what is the role of the school counselor. According to the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) ?A Comprehensive school counseling program is, driven by student data and based on standards in academic, career and personal/social
Professional school counselors, as well as administrators, want the best for their students and strive to meet all student needs. Implementing a program audit each year helps ensure the programs in place are successful and show progressive growth trends each year. The student body will thrive from the favorable actions of the educational team.
The compressive school programs are driven by student data and are based on academic, career, and personal/ social development. The programs are collaborating between the counselor, parents, and many other educators to create an environment that promotes student excellences (ASCA, 2016). A productive school counselor will focus on their skills, time and energy on direct and indirect services to all students. Therefore, to achieve those goals, the ASCA recommends that a school counselor should not have more than 250 students and that 80 percent or more of a counselor’s time in direct and indirect services. As a result, we will focus on the delivery of those services.
I received the pleasure of interviewing two school counselors, Mrs. Jean Harmon and Mr. Devon Herrick. I was excited about interviewing school counselors within the Chicago land area. Despite many negativities spoken about the Chicago Public School (CPS) system, I desire to work within CPS. I’ve heard many pros and cons of working at a selective enrollment school, compared to a public charter school. By interviewing these two individuals, I assumed that I would get a snapshot of a potential work day for a school counselor. Mrs. Harmon is a school counselor at King College Preparatory high school. Mr. Herrick is a personal counselor at Urban Prep Charter Academy- Bronzeville campus. It was interesting in learning about the daily responsibilities,
Students entering college for the first time become concern with their college life. The students are on their own once they enter college. There are no parents or guardians telling them when to do homework, when to go to bed, or how to eat healthy. These student are now responsible on how they are going to succeed in school and meet their own needs. From the beginning, these students wonder what their experience is going to be like and are they going to handle the demands from college. Students are becoming more stressful due to academic demands, social life, and work. First-year college students should receive more help from school to learn how to help themselves and become independent.
Deciding to become a Student Guidance Counselor was not a fly by night decision. I did a great deal of reading and research before making a decision. I knew once I started a graduate program in School Guidance Counseling, it would be both challenging and a commitment until the end. I am somewhat nervous about this new journey that I am about to partake; however, I am ready to accept the challenge and make the commitment. I am a newly licensed teacher and there will be areas and terminology which I am not familiar. But, what I have found out thus far is that a teacher and a student counselor have quite a few things in common. They both work with other teachers, parents, school administrators, and the community in an academic setting. The skills I have acquired as a preschool director and teacher will be integrated into my career as a guidance counselor. I will have the skills to guide and enhance the social, academic, and personal growth of my students by using a variety of strategies which will be my primary goal. I will be able t...
If college counseling is to help students with college and this counseling would be better to
During the past three years of college, my interest in counseling has been affirmed through a variety of experiences. One important experience that influenced my decision to pursue a career as a school counselor was my involvement in my community service sorority, Chi Delta Alpha. Through Chi Delta Alpha, I volunteered on several occasions, among them I babysat children to provide parents with a night off; I was responsible for a group of elementary students as they experienced college classes and I painted a caboose for a local playground. A theme that has remained constant throughout all my different experiences is that making a difference in a person’s life is a rewarding experience, and I know that I desire a career that enables me to support high school students as they face difficult situations.
...and then peer approval, trying to be accepted in a group. Having strong counselors is a good foundation for a school; these educators are here to help promote academic success.
American School Counselor Association. (2012). The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, Third Edition. Alexandria, VA: Author.
Counselors are open-minded and do not pass judgment verbally or physically at anytime while assisting students. Prejudging minimizes responses from distressed or problematic students. Giving advice and assistance should not be based on counselors’ personal opinion. Good counselors will refrain from bias and therefore communicate effective skills to empower students. Counselor should become listeners, observers, and advisers.
I cannot recall a more rewarding experience than helping facilitate a child’s education while enabling parent participation alike. These experiences have drawn me to my current position as an Educational Assistant where I am constantly interacting and establishing relationships with students, learning about their goals and aspirations. It is that same desire to empower our future students that has steered me towards a career as a school counselor. By enrolling in the Masters in counseling program, I aspire to develop methods and experience to become an effective, experienced, and adaptable school counselor that promotes self-awareness, allowing students to realize their full potential and impetus them towards a promising future. I want to learn skills that facilitate personal and career development, ensuring that our students grow accomplishing their goals and ambitions.
In order to be an effective counselor, one must remember to keep the client(s) in mind. The goal is to assist the client(s) in living the best life possible for that particular person or persons. With that being said, one cannot forget that they have their own set of morals, values, ideas, and the like. Social workers have to keep in mind that there will be cases that are complex and a favorable outcome may not be possible. In the instance that I am confronted with an issue that conflicts with my religious beliefs, I plan on assisting the client as much as possible by adhering the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics, NASW standards for the Practice of Clinical Social Work, and discussing my concerns with my supervisor while
One aspect I found striking was the role of advice giving in counseling. Prior to this class, I knew that counselors did not typically give opinions or advice to lead a client in a certain direction. What I did not know was the entire reasoning behind this. A counselor might avoid giving advice so that a client learns to make his/her own decisions, does not become dependent on the counselor, and to ensure that a client will not later blame the counselor if the counselor’s advice did not turn out well. In this context, I have a better appreciation and understanding of why therapists refrain from telling the client what to do.
Counselors are able to advise more students through planned activities (Ordsmyth, 2002). There is also the need to support students through the transitional stage between significant events. Preparing a student to enter a four-year college, two-year college, military or job force is crucial to their future success.