The Role of the School Counselor • TISD schools have counseling services available to students in all of our schools at every grade level. The role of the counselor is to guide, advise, recommend, consult and assist with the concerns that students, parents, teachers, administrators and the school community may have.
Components of the of the K-12 School Counseling Program • Guidance Curriculum
• Responsive Services • Individual Student Planning • System Support
Elementary School Counseling Duties
Classroom Guidance Lessons (Guidance Curriculum) •
All levels (Pre-K through 4)
•
Developmental Guidance Program- Monthly lessons give tools students need
Topics may include: • • • • • • • • • •
Self-Esteem Social Skills Accepting Differences Healthy Choices (Red Ribbon Week) Personal Safety Bullying Conflict Resolution (Kelso’s Choices) Overcoming Daily Challenges (Why Try?) Test-Taking Skills Goal Setting/Career Awareness
Small Counseling Groups
•
(Responsive Services) Meet weekly during K-4 lunch times
•
Based on Referrals/Requests
Depending on specific needs, topics may include: • Social Skills/Friendship Skills • Conflict Resolution/Anger Management • Families in Transition
Individual Counseling-Daily Typical topics include: Friends, Academics, Self-Control, Self-Esteem, Encouragement, Home/Family situations, Grief
Elementary Programs (Guidance Curriculum)
Counselors regularly assess the effectiveness of their programs!
• Character Education- Core Essentials Good Citizen Program ( • 9 Week Awards - Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance • Second Step (K-3rd grade) Steps to Respect (4th grade) • WHO (We Help Ourselves) Program • Watch DOGS (Dads Of Great Students) • Peer Mediation Mentoring Program • Why Try? • Red Ribbon Week
Other Counselor Duties Individual Student Planning duties include: • • • • •
PST (Problem Solving Team) Meetings- weekly At-Risk Coordinator Parent/Teacher Conferences Administration Meetings and Consultations CPS (Child Protective Services) Awareness and Consultation • G/T Selection Committee
Other Counselor Duties System Support Duties may include: • • • •
Food/Toy Drive Coordination for assisting at-risk families Community outreach, donations, volunteers, and referrals Campus Improvement Team Member Safe and Drug Free Schools Representative
TAKS Testing Coordinator(System Support) TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills 3rd Grade- Math (April 26) Reading (April 27) No longer falls under SSI requirements 4th Grade- Writing and Editing (March 1) Math (April 26) Reading (April 27)
Elementary Counselors • Canyon Pointe Elementary-Kimberly Strong 281-357-3122 ext. 2811 • Creekside Forest Elementary (K-6)- Elizabeth Bush 281357-4526 ext. 3812 • Decker Prairie Elementary- Beth Pitts- 281-357-3134 ext. 3076 • Lakewood Elementary- Sandi Pickett- 281-357-3679 ext. 3679 • Rosehill Elementary-Julie Hutson-281-357-3075 ext. 2108 • Tomball Elementary- Andrea Littlepage- 281-357-3280 ext. 3208 • Willow Creek Elementary- Judy Cannon – 281-357-3080 ext. 3408
Intermediate Counselors • Northpointe Intermediate- Jenny Wheeler- 281-357-3020 ext. 2119 • Tomball Intermediate- Barbara Frank- 281-357-3150 ext. 4208
Junior High Counseling Duties
Year Round Duties • Master Schedule Maintenance and Changes (System Support) • Schedule Changes as needed (Individual Student Planning)
• Crisis Intervention Services (Responsive Services)
– i.e. Death/suicide (or attempted suicide) of a student or staff member
• Placement Testing as appropriate (Individual Planning) • Student Counseling and Referrals (i.e. bullying, conflict resolution, self esteem, family issues, high school four your plan and career/goal setting) (Responsive Services)
Year Round Duties • Student and Parent Responsive Services (Responsive Services)
• Student Assistance Team (SAT) Coordinator (Individual Planning) • Why Try Guidance Curriculum Program (Guidance Curriculum)
August- December • Master Schedule Completion (System Support) • Student Scheduling (Individual Planning) • New Student Registration (Individual Planning)
• Grade Placement Meetings for 8th graders not passing 3rd administration of math and/or readingTAKS test (Individual Planning)
August - December • Personal Graduation Plans (Individual Planning) • 7th grade Duke Talent Search (System Support) • Adopt a Family Coordinator (Responsive Services) • Kuder Career Interest Inventories and 4 year high school planning (Guidance Curriculum and Individual Planning) • TAKS Field Testing/Other Standardized Testing (System Support)
January • Student schedule changes as needed for 2nd semester (Individual Planning)
• 6th grade Parent Orientation (System Support) • Course Selections for incoming 7th, 8th and 9th graders (Individual Planning)
TELPAS -(Texas English Language
Proficiency Assessment System) for all TISD ELL students (English Language Learners)
– Online Reading Test for 7th and 8th grade ELL students – Collection, verification, and rating of state mandated writing samples for all ELL students – (System Support)
February-May
• TAKS Test Coordination/ Planning (System Support) • SSI (Student Success Initiative)-grade placement meetings for 8th graders who do not pass the 2nd administration of the reading and/or math TAKS test ( Individual Planning) • Master Schedule Planning and changes for the next school year based on student course selections (System Support) • Why Try Guidance Curriculum Program (Guidance Curriculum)
Why Try Guidance Curriculum Program • Guidance Program that consists of ten visual analogies or pictures with questions to help students deal with daily challenges and frustrations with regard to home, school and peers.
Junior High Counselor Contact Information • TJHS – Kathy Donigan-281-357-3000 ext. 4413 • WWJH- Nancy Bowen-281-357-3030 ext. 2113 • WWJH- Judy Barnes-281-357-3030 ext. 2114
Components of the High School Counseling Program Counseling offers a means for the student to grow in knowledge of self and others, thus enabling the student to develop a sense of responsibility needed to live effectively in today’s world.
Guidance Curriculum The curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students achieve the desired competencies. • • • • •
Grade level lessons How to be successful in academics Value of education Graduation Requirements Advanced Level Choices
Individual Student Planning Counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans. • • • • •
Course Selections One on one conferences Four Year Plans Junior conferences Senior Conferences
Responsive Services Responsive Services encompasses prevention and/or intervention activities to meet students’ immediate and future needs. • Individual counseling • Group counseling • Referrals to other school support services or community resources • Peer mediation • Consultation with parents, teachers and other educators (SAT, PST meetings)
System Support System support consists of management activities establishing, maintaining, and enhancing the total school counseling program. • • • • • •
Professional development Consultation Scheduling Testing (PSAT, TAKS, AP) College updates Counseling and testing trainings and updates
Parent Involvement Educational research continues to support parental involvement as a factor in success of students. • Get involved in the parental counterpart of the school activity your teenager has expressed interest in (Band Boosters, Athletic Booster, Renaissance Club, etc…) • Communicate with teachers when you have a specific concern. • Monitor your child’s grades online and keep track of dates when progress reports and report cards are sent home.
School Guidance The key word to remember is GUIDE. Guidance counselors walk BESIDE the student on the path toward academic, career and personal/social excellence. Ultimately, school counselors facilitate student self-responsibility by recognizing that each student’s path to excellence is unique.
Student Success The Four A’s for student success: • • • •
Achievement Activities Attendance Attitude Students who are focused on earning good grades, having good attendance, being involved in school activities, and having a positive attitude substantially increase their likelihood of success.
Tomball High School Counselors 281-357-3220 • • • • • • •
Keyla Carroll- ext. 2222 (Go-In) Sheri Forsyth-ext. 2221 (Ir- McC) Connie Huff- ext. 2225 (R- So) Nancy Lynch- ext. 2223 (Sp-Z) Emily Nichols- ext. 2293 (Cor-Gn) Lashelle Nix- ext. 2901 (McD-Q) Carol Powell- ext. 2224 (A- Cop)
Final Thoughts… Each child is capable of reaching his or her own potential given the necessary tools and support from home and school.
This support must be a partnership beginning at the elementary level continuing through high school! Positive attitudes are essential to reaching one’s potential!
Positive attitudes are contagious!
