Careers in education are not easy, but careers in education are necessary and vital to the success of students. The career of school counselor is one of the most challenging and necessary careers in the education field. It is a challenge to define what exactly a school counselor does because a counselor has an array of job responsibilities and it can be confusing as to when the job ends. School counselors provide many critical services and serve as support to students and teachers alike, as well as facilitating communication between the school and the parents. In order to be successful in this career field, school counselors must have excellent verbal communication skills for effective interactions with students, faculty, and parents. …show more content…
(Owens, Thomas, & Strong, 2011) In order for professional school counselors to be successful in their interactions with students, parents, and fellow faculty, they must have excellent verbal communication skills. Speaking with students is an essential part of the school counselors’ job and they must be able to effectively connect to each student on his or her own specific level and provide positive feedback in a way in which the student will comprehend precisely what the counselor is saying. Counselors must also be able to suggest ideas tailored for each individual student and get them to engage in active discussions about their goals and aspirations that they would like to achieve in the …show more content…
Professional school counselors must be able to call and/or conference with the parents to keep them informed about their child without breaking the confidentiality between the counselor and the student. According to (Huss, 2008), “Educating parents and students about privacy, confidentiality, and privileged communication helps the professional school counselor avoid misunderstandings that impair the student-counselor relationship.” Speaking with the parents and the students together may help the students express their feelings a little easier about any issues that they may be having in school by knowing that there is someone on their side. School counselors must also be able to effectively and professionally speak with fellow faculty members to help them understand what the student is needing from them or perhaps to create a personalized plan in which the student may earn extra credit to raise their grade point average. It is crucial for the counselor to work with the faculty to best benefit each student in their own individualized
The responsibilities of a professional school counselor are to design and deliver comprehensive programs to promote student achievement. The guidelines
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,
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...
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.
High school counselors advise students on an assortment of topics. Counselors help from advising students about colleges and requirements to helping students deal with social, behavioral and personal problems. School counselors do not always interact with students individually; they will also work with small groups of students or even an entire class, depending on the topic. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), high school is a time for students to transition into adulthood and the work of work, begin separating from their parents, and exploring and defining their independence. They need guidance in making concrete and compounded decisions. This is where school counselors come in to help these students guide them with information.
I have seen that The Masters of School Counseling degree provides students with a chance to learn more about their inner selves and abilities. Not only will this program prepare me for life beyond the classroom, but it will also provide me with the opportunity to offer the needed support to the students with whom I will be working. When students develop a positive and trustworthy relationship with a School Counselor, there is no limit to the things that they can accomplish. School systems shouldn’t just teach content knowledge, they should also offer real world experience. Sharing simple things about our lives can be used as a tool when teaching. I feel that students can overcome obstacles they have experienced in their lives and begin to find many successes that encourage them to be the best that they can be. One of the biggest ways I think children find success is when their curiosity creates creativity “getting the wheels turning”. During my undergraduate program at Piedmont College, I observed in many classes in which it was clear the students had a variety of abilities and skills. While observing techniques that the teachers utilized I learned that there is a great deal of strategy involved in teaching, mentoring and guiding
Middle school marks a very exciting, yet challenging time for many students, parents, and teachers. During this time period students are exploring their interests, moving deeply into their studies, taking on more responsibilities, and trying to find their personal identities. Most importantly, this is a time where students turn from their parents and seek advice and approval from their peers. Because many adolescents are emotionally sensitive and vulnerable during this stage of development, their heavy reliance on peers for acceptance and approval makes them more susceptible to emotional damage. For that reason, school counselors plays an essential role in the lives of their students. Gonkawon Strother and Sheree Leonard, middle school counselors at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Temple Hills, Maryland understands the importance of their role. Gonkawon Strother, the primary counselor for sixth and seventh grade students, has been a counselor for five years. His colleague, Sheree Leonard, has been a professional school counselor for three years. Leonard primarily
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. To discover techniques that help students improve in all areas of academic achievement, establishing relationships with students and parents alike. By becoming a school counselor, I am determined to become an advocate for underserved youth. I aim to become an effective agent educational reform, providing support for students in the various institutions that may disempower
It is my job as a member in the field of education to implement increasing intensive interventions is because students deserve to be supplied with the most appropriate learning strategies. If a student is struggling than it is important for the teacher to understand that it their job to make sure every child is learning. I am studying to be a school counselor so my role in the education scene will be a little different. It is important for me to stay in touch with the new and proven intervention that work best for certain student.
I feel very fortunate in interviewing this Counselor Educator for I believe he has faced many challenges that have been concerning me. One concern in particular, is that as being a new CES graduate would necessitate my relocation to a region of the United States that I would find undesirable. I prefer the western United States, where I feel the outdoor culture and wilderness accessibility fits me well. Due to this interview, I began to feel that counselor education is more flexible and can be shaped to fit my needs and desires; that accepting an instructor position in a region which better suits me may not be sabotaging my career, opposed to seeking a tenure position in an area of the country where I am strongly averse to living. With this perspective, I now feel there exists the possibility of shaping my career in a way that I need not sacrifice what I find personally nurturing and desirable to pursue the golden ideal of a tenured track position.
School psychologists have many legal and ethical obligations to students and there parents. When conducting counseling sessions and other therapeutic interventions in schools there may be some concerns with confidentiality and privacy for the student. Before conducting and providing treatment services, they must inform the parents or legal guardians of the child to approve of the services planned by the school psychologists. When working with children explaining to them their rights and then explaining to them their lack of rights if their parents want information can be very difficult. What is fortunate is that most families will respect their privacy of their children and not question the school psychologists were there is a small percentage of parents who may.
responding to parental demands for confidential information. Professional School Counseling, 6(2). Retrieved March 6, 2004, from MasterFILE Premier.
Careers are not something to be taken in a light manner as it acts as a major function in every being’s life. Career dysfunctional may results in decreased self confidence, increased interpersonal communication problems or traces of depression. According to Beverly Baskin, the term career can be defined as the the totality of work one does in one’s lifetime. Given this definition, education, family responsibilities, work and leisure activities are inclusive.