The Professional School Counselor in Intermediate District 287

District 287 School Counselors

       Sherrie Dewey (West Education Center) Steve Higgins (North Education Center) Jimmie Heags (Edgewood Education Center) Alicia Jensen (Omegon) Jess Larson (Epsilon) Kristin Solberg (North Education Center Alternative) Melissa Winship(South Education Center Alternative)

District 287 School Counselor mission statement

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The mission of the Intermediate District 287 School Counseling Program is to prepare and support all students in the areas of career, academic, and social/emotional development. We promote growth and opportunities that are unique to each individual. The goal is for students to develop the competencies necessary to lead productive and meaningful lives.

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

 The national professional organization that school counselors use as a guide in performing their duties and responsibilities as a school counselor

Guidance Counselor vs. Professional School Counselor

School Counselor Graduate School Courses

• • Foundations of School Counseling Comparative Theories • • • Principles of Research Values and Ethics in Counseling Developmental Psychology • Group Counseling • Career Development • • • Counseling Children and Adolescence Interviewing/Counseling Skills Multicultural Counseling • Practicum/Internship • Master’s Project/Thesis

School Counselors help ALL students in the areas of:

 Academic achievement  Personal/social development  Career Development

ASCA National Model

Delivery System

 School Counseling Core Curriculum  Individual Student Planning  Responsive Services  Indirect Student Services

Delivery System: School Counseling Core Curriculum

 Classroom lessons    Character Development College/career preparation Life Skills  Small groups       Anger Management/Conflict Resolution Resiliency Grief/Loss Family Change Chemical/sexual health Empowerment/Self-Esteem

Delivery System:

Individual Student Planning

 School Counselors meet with students to discuss academic, career and personal/social needs or concerns  Assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans

Delivery System:

Responsive Services

 Meet students’ immediate needs  Counseling: School Counselors recognize and respond to mental health needs by offering planned and goal focused counseling to students, and referring to community resources when needed.  Help students to identify problems, causes, alternatives and possible consequences so they can make decisions.  Crisis Response: intervention and follow-up during and after student crisis situations

Delivery System:

Indirect Student Services

 Referrals  Consultation  Collaboration

ASCA Aligned and Non Aligned School Counseling Activities

 See ASCA handout

Support Staff Roles

 What are the roles of the School Counselor, School Psychologist and School Social Worker?

 See handout

Current Issues in Schools that Increase the Need for School Counselors

 Increased mental health and chemical health needs in our students  Bullying and cruel behaviors in schools  Need to increase graduation rates and post-secondary planning and preparation

District 287 School Counseling Vision Statement

 Given the successful implementation of an innovative school counseling program, every District 287 student will graduate with a meaningful diploma, achieve their fullest potential, be successful lifelong learners, self-advocates and productive citizens who respect themselves and others.

Thank You!

 Thank you for allowing us time to present today!

 Any questions for the School Counseling team?