Counselors are a resource for lifelong success
April 3, 2008
Today’s school-age child is living in an exciting educational time; one characterized by an ever expanding curriculum, new technologies, and heightened academic accountability. Beyond the school setting, children also face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that not only affect them as individuals, but impact their family as well.
The elementary school years set the tone for building the knowledge, attitudes, and other foundation skills necessary for children to become competent, confident, and healthy learners. It is also during the K-5 experience that decision-making, interpersonal communication, and perceptions of self, peers, social groups, family, and school begin to take shape. In order to support students, families, and staff, the Blue Springs School District houses a full-time counselor at its 13 elementary schools. The elementary counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to student needs within the school setting. Elementary counselors don’t work in isolation, but are an integral part of a resource team comprised of teachers, support staff, administration, and community members. By engaging all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services, including education, prevention, early identification, and intervention, elementary counselors provide the proactive leadership necessary to create a safe, caring, child-centered school climate.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has an organizational framework for K-12 counseling services – the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program – which focuses on three strands and nine specific standards designed to assure that all students participate in and benefit from the educational process.
The three strands respective to the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program are: 1) Personal and Social Development; 2) Academic Development; and 3) Career Development.
The three standards respective to Personal and Social Development are: 1) Understanding self as an individual and as a member of diverse local and global communities; 2) Interacting with others in ways that respect individual and group differences; and 3) Applying personal safety skills.
The three standards respective to Academic Development are: 1) Applying skills needed for educational achievement; 2) Applying the skills of transitioning between grade levels; and 3) Developing and monitoring personal educational plans.
The three standards respective to Career Development are: 1) Applying career exploration and planning skills in the achievement of life career goals; 2) Knowing where and how to obtain information about the world of work and post-secondary training/education; and 3) Applying employment readiness skills and the skills for on-the-job success.
The conceptualization of guidance in the district and across the state is that programming must be: 1) conducted on a regular, planned, and systematic basis according to grade level expectations; 2) capable of addressing student and family crisis needs; and 3) provide a full range of developmental and sequential activities and services such as assessment, information, consultation, counseling, referral, placement, follow-up, and follow-through. As with most school-based programs, all staff members are involved with counselors playing a key role. Not only do elementary counselors provide direct assistance to children and families, they also work in consultative and collaborative relationships with other members of the student support team to address academic, personal, and social needs and to remove barriers that interfere with learning.
The district’s elementary counselors visit with thousands of students each year and are a vital part of each school’s educational program. The elementary counselors can be contacted easily by phone or e-mail and have access to local outreach agencies for assistance. District patrons are encouraged to contact their school counselor to discuss program concepts, guidelines, services, and volunteer opportunities such as YouthFriends, an adult/student mentoring program. Ultimately, through comprehensive guidance programming, elementary counselors are helping students, teachers, parents, and the community link school success with life success!
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