The Professional School Counselor’s Responsibilities
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By Anne Donegan Costas
Professional School Counselors
Professional school counselors have a variety of roles in the school setting. I will be covering some of the more important roles in this article. It would be too lengthy to touch on all of their roles because there are many. However, I will cover the main ones.
SCHEDULING
Professional school counselors spend a huge amount of time scheduling classes. This is true at the middle and high school levels. Children at the lower grades do not usually have as many choices and scheduling is not a main priority for elementary counselors. However, it is one of the most time consuming jobs high school counselors have. After the classes are put into the computer we have what is called an “automatic scheduler” which then schedules the classes. However, many of the schedules have to be hand scheduled due to band, athletics, pre-ap classes, and other classes which are a priority. Once students see their schedules there are invariably mistakes or a student has changed their mind over the summer. The mistakes we fix. Schedules are changed for students who have changed their minds when class sizes will permit. Counselors have only so much wiggle room when working on schedules. The master schedule is made over the summer and counselors simply have to abide by the master schedule.
CONFERENCES AT SCHOOL
Conferences are another of our main priorities. Having parent involvement is key to a child’s success in school. Counselors and teachers work hard to contact parents for conferences. As long as the school has current phone numbers and addresses there is usually not a problem. Make sure you always give updated information to the school when you move or change a phone number. This information needs to go to the registrar and school nurse. The registrar will put the new information in the computer so teachers and counselors can view the new information.
PHONE CONFERENCES
Often our parents work full time and cannot get off work or they work two jobs. We have conference calls when the parent cannot come in at all. We try to work with the parent and have the conference on their day off, but conference calls are a good substitute. Often times we have parents/guardians leave messages on our phones. Sometimes the parent thinks they have left the message for their child’s counselor and it ends up on the wrong phone line. Anytime you are not able to reach the counselor it is a good idea to leave a message. However, follow up your message by calling the counseling secretary and leaving a message for her to give the counselor. Counselors do their best to return phone calls in a timely manner, but some days are extremely hectic. If the message needs to get to the counselor that day call the counseling secretary and make sure she/he knows the importance of getting your information to the counselor.
KEEPING UP WITH EACH CHILD INDIVIDUALLY
Counselors might have anywhere from 400 students to 550 students per year. Each counselor is expected to keep up with the students and their successes and failures. Every school has academic interventions which include tutorials after school with teachers, peer tutorials, classes that might be of help in a specific area, and many more. You will need to read in your student handbook and/or talk with school personnel about the interventions offered at your child’s school. Counselors and teachers spend a lot of their time to get each student involved in interventions that are appropriate for them.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITY
It is important for the parent to take some responsiblity for their student’s education. Please get involved with your student. Go to the open houses, school meetings, and any other time you are invited. Call and or go by the school any time you have a concern or need information about your child’s progress. Often times students may not take their report cards or other teacher notes home. If you are not being updated please call the school. We can have report cards mailed to you if you request it. If your child has a learning disability or they have ADD/ADHD or any other medical concern please make an appointment with the teachers early in the year and share this information with them. Your child will be more successful when the school personnel know any issues that may be important to your child’s every day success.
Professional School Counselors usually truly enjoy their profession. Feel free to call on your school counselor anytime you have questions or concerns. Make it a point to get to know them. The school counselor serves as an advocate for you and your student.
Have a Great Year. Be Well!
For more information on Professional School Counselors–click here You may also go to the TEA website for Information on Texas Professional Counselors: Their website is www.tea.state.tx.us