• What is an Elementary School Counselor?

    Professional school counselors collaborate with administrators, teachers, staff, families and the community to ensure all students have the opportunity to design a rigorous and relevant academic and career program. Professional school counselors design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program that includes educational and career planning activities for all students designed to assist students in reaching academic, career and personal/social goals.

    Academic and college and career planning provides all students with the opportunity to identify strengths, areas in need of improvement and areas of interest early on, so students and their families can set post-secondary goals and make informed choices to support students in reaching the desired outcome. The focus of academic and career planning is threefold: to help students acquire the skills to achieve academic success, to make connections between school and life experiences and to acquire knowledge and skills to be college and career ready upon high school graduation.

    The Professional School Counselor’s Role in College and Career Planning

    Professional school counselors understand national, state and local requirements and programs that may affect future opportunities for college and career readiness and therefore play a critical role in academic and career planning. The professional school counselor takes a proactive role in assisting students, families and staff as they assess student strengths and interests and encourage the selection of a rigorous and relevant educational program supporting all students’ college and career goals. Professional school counselors provide all students with the opportunity to:

    • Demonstrate the skills needed for school success.
    • Demonstrate the connection between coursework and life experiences.
    • Make course selections that allow them the opportunity to choose from a wide range of post-secondary options.
    • Explore interests and abilities in relation to knowledge of self and the world of work.
    • Identify and apply strategies to achieve future academic and career success.
    • Demonstrate the skills for successful goal-setting and attainment.

    Possible Reasons to Contact Your Child’s School Counselor

    • Academic skills support
    • Career preparation
    • Post-secondary planning and college application process
    • Support for parent deployment or pending PCS
    • School transition/adjustment concerns
    • Coping, problem-solving, decision-making concerns
    • Organizational, study and test-taking skills
    • Peer relationships and conflict resolution   
    • Divorce, separation and family changes
    • Experiencing loss, death and grief
    • Substance abuse awareness
    • School-based and community resources, information or referrals
    • Suicide intervention and prevention
    • Bullying intervention and prevention

     

     
Infographic describing what is a school counselor.

  • A student may see the counselor for:

    *Any problems that they may have that are impacting academic performance

    *Review and discussion of academic needs

    *Divorce or changing family issues

    *A loss of a family member or close friend

    *Significant individual or family crisis

    *Decision-making and problem-solving skills

    *Anxiety/Worries

    *Improvement and aid in the development of positive self-esteem

    *Family concerns

    *Friendship concerns or conflicts