The School Counselor
The role and function of the school counselor consists of: program management activities to ensure that a developmental program is planned, coordinated, systematized, evaluated, and delivered to all students; counseling services provided to students on an individual or group basis; contacts with parents, teachers, administrators, and professional colleagues to share pertinent information about students; and a range of assessment activities to gather, evaluate, interpret, organize, and disseminate information to meet student, school, and community needs.
Program Management
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Identifies students' guidance and counseling related needs and translates them into relevant objectives and/or priorities;
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Identifies and uses all available resources for attaining guidance and counseling objectives;
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Establishes realistic, systematic procedures for attaining guidance and counseling objectives, and evaluates attainment of those objectives in terms of student competencies;
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Communicates school counseling services to both school and community; and,
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Conducts follow-up studies related to placement and program improvement.
Counseling
- Assists students in assessing personal skills, feelings, attitudes, etc., and clarifies possible alternatives and strategies for students' use in meeting personal goals;
- Identifies external factors that influence the attainment of personal goals and helps students make desired changes and adjustments for themselves; and,
- Reviews student progress toward personal goals and makes appropriate referrals for students when additional help is needed.
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Develops individual student management plans and recommends related classroom or individual activities;
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Assists in the referral process for community resources;
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Provides information on classroom management strategies to administrators and teachers; and,
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Matches employer needs with the vocational competencies of students.
Appraisal
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Assists with the coordination and use of standardized and/or non-standardized instruments for students; and,
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Organizes and interprets assessment data for use in counseling and decision making by administrators, parents, and students themselves; and
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relates assessment data to placement or referral options.
Information Management
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Processes information about students: personal and academic information, test data, class placement, etc.;
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Organizes and disseminates information about school course offerings, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, rights and responsibilities of students, etc.;
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Maintains an up-to-date library appropriate guidance and counseling materials for students and staff;
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Provides teachers and other staff with material for group guidance sessions related to career decision making, personal and academic growth, interpersonal relations, etc.; and,
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Provides employers with information regarding general school curriculum, specific vocational programs, etc
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