What can a high school counselor do for you? A whole lot.
Counselors are in the “can do” business, helping kids maximize their high school career to take full advantage of all options after graduation. My role is multi-faceted. The State Plan for Guidance and Counseling outlines four main areas: guidance, responsive services, individual planning, and system support.
Guidance refers to teaching things like career exploration, student success and college planning, scholarships and course selection. Juniors and seniors schedule a conference to discuss post-high school goals that include school performance, career goals, college plans and how we can assist. Guidance at ninth and 10th grade focuses on career exploration, high school course planning and school success strategies.
I arrange for college visits here on campus, keeping parents and students informed via internet resources like Counselor Corner on the LVHS Web site and e-mails targeted to seniors and juniors about college, scholarship, summer programs and educational opportunities. I provide numerous parent workshops, open to all grades.
This year we have provided college financial aid programs, one each from Texas A&M and Austin Community College, the College Update outlining new developments in college planning and entrance, Early College Start which outlines ACC opportunities and the incoming ninth grade orientation. A course selection meeting for all grades is planned for March 30.
Responsive services refer to responding to student and parent needs as they arise. School counseling is focused on student school success, yet there is much I can do to help students weather crisis in their lives, make better choices, weigh alternatives to situations and problem solve their difficulties. Some students face life situations that hinder their potential. Working with a counselor on perspective and clarifying students’ options can help them reduce conflict both in school and out as well as lower stress levels.
Individual planning refers to working one-on-one with students to reach their potential. Programs like Four-Year Planning help students line-up their high school career with their post-high school plans and encourages students to reach for success.
I interface with ACC on two programs that offer a direct pipeline to college for all students: Early College Start for juniors and seniors and College Connection for seniors. To deliver services to our students requires planning, coordination and information dissemination. Early College Start offers dual credit classes here at LVHS and classes at ACC campuses. Often students need help to navigate ACC entrance requirements and enrollment procedures. College Connection meets with all our seniors for college orientation, college application workshop, testing for ACC and college freshman advising. These services are invaluable in helping our students to become successful college freshmen.
System support refers to all the other things I do to support our educational system at LVHS. This includes coordination with staff for guidance activities and various testing programs (PSAT, AP, TAKS), fee collection, working with students, parents, and faculty on many topics, liaison with community groups and administration, organizing local scholarship application process/ graduation/award programs, consulting on curriculum, data management, overseeing transcript process and whatever else comes my way.
There is never a dull moment in the counselor’s office at high school. It is the best job in the district—helping our wonderful students reach for their dreams and encouraging them to stay the course to achieve those dreams.
My philosophy has always been if you can believe it, you can achieve it. We live that out every day at LVHS and stand ready to assist our students in all ways we can. Thanks for sharing your great kids with us.