Why Elementary School Counselors? (taken from the American School Counselor Association)

Elementary school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills children need to become healthy, competent, and confident learners.  Through a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team with the school and community to create a caring climate and atmosphere.  By providing early identification and interventions, school counselors can be a part of helping all children achieve success.  The professional elementary school counselor holds a master's degree and receives certification in school counseling.  Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today's students.  Professional membership enhances the school counselor's knowledge and effectiveness.

Elementary School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

School Guidance Curriculum:

• Academic support, including organizational, study, and test-taking skills
• Goal setting and decision-making
• Education on understanding of self and others, peer relationships, coping strategies, and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution
• Substance abuse prevention education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning:

• Academic Planning
• Goal Setting/Decision-making
• Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses

Responsive Services:

• Individual and small group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Conflict resolution
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals

System Support:

• Professional Development
• Consultation, collaboration, and teaming
• Program management and operation
• Coordination of test administration

Elementary School Counselors Collaborate With:

Parents:

• Parent education
• Communication/networking
• Academic planning
• One-on-one parent conferencing
• Interpretation of assessment results

Teachers:

• Classroom guidance activities
• Academic support
• School speakers
• At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success

Administrators:

• School climate
• Behavioral management plans
• Student data and results
• Student assistance team building

Students:

• Peer education
• Peer support
• Academic support
• School climate
• Leadership development
• Community
• Crisis interventions
• Referrals
• Suppport Groups