• school not guidance
    Why Middle School Counselors?
     
     

    Why Middle School Counselors?

    Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree or higher and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership is encouraged as it enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

      

    Meeting the Challenge

    Middle school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program. The ASCA National Standards in the academic, National Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs, with it’s data driven and results-based focus serves as a guide for today’s school counselor who is uniquely trained to implement this program.
     

    Middle School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

    School Guidance Curriculum
    Academic skills support
    Organizational, study and test-taking skills
    Education in understanding self and others
    Coping strategies
    Peer relationships and effective social skills
    Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
    Career awareness, exploration and planning
    Substance abuse education
    Multicultural/diversity awareness     

    Individual Student Planning
    Goal-setting/decision-making
    Academic planning
    Career planning
    Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
    Transition planning

    Responsive Services
    Individual and small group counseling
    Individual/family/school crisis intervention
    Peer facilitation
    Consultation/collaboration
    Referrals

    System Support
    Professional development
    Consultation, collaboration and teaming
    Program management and operation

     

    Middle School Counselors Collaborate With:

    Parents
    Parent information night
    Communication/networking
    Academic planning programs
    Parent and family education
    One-on-one parent conferencing
    Assessment results interpretation
    Resource referrals

    Teachers
    Career portfolio development
    Assistance with students’ academic plans
    Classroom curriculum activities on study skills, career development, etc.
    Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically
    Classroom career speakers
    At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
    Parent communication/education

    Administrators
    School climate
    Behavioral management plans
    School-wide needs assessment
    Student data and results
    Leadership

    Students
    Peer education
    Peer support
    Academic support
    School climate
    Leadership development

    Community
    Job shadowing
    Crisis interventions
    Referrals
    Parenting classes
    Career education