- Dominion High School
- School Counselor Role
General Information
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How School Counselors Help Students Dream Big
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School counselors are certified/licensed educators who improve student success for ALL students by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. 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. School counselors work to maximize student success, promoting access and equity for all students. As vital members of the school leadership team, school counselors create a school culture of success for all.
School counselors help all students: apply academic achievement strategies, manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills, and plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force). All school counselors hold a Master's Degree, meet certification and licensing standards, continue fulfilling education requirements, and uphold the American School Counseling Association's ethical and professional standards.
Possible Reasons to Contact Your Child’s School Counselor
- 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
School Counselor's Role
School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling program to the school’s academic mission and school improvement plan.
- Counselors work in professional partnerships with teachers and support personnel to foster an educational system where students can realize their true potential.
- School counselors are actively engaged in helping students:
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- examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents;
- guide their academic and career planning;
- focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development;
- work in partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; and
- work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students maximize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations.
- School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in guidance and counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the school.
- School counselors reduce barriers to learning and in providing the support necessary for all students to achieve at the highest level.
- School Counselors are available to students. They listen, support, and advise.
- School counselors are school leaders and student advocates.
- School counselors help guide academic and career planning.
- School counselors have the resources and expertise to help students develop their future plans
- School counseling is a key component of the system of support for the school-family-community relationship to help students be successful.
- Dominion's School Counselors are aligned with the ASCA National Model and counseling standards.
- Dominion School Counselors are data-informed and offer a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate array of direct and indirect counseling services based on the needs of students.
- Direct services are counselor's in-person interactions with students. They include:
- A developmental counseling core curriculum designed that helps students attain the competencies (knowledge, attitudes and skills) appropriate to their level.
- Individual student planning comprises systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
- Responsive services encompass a spectrum of activities designed to meet students' immediate needs.
- Indirect services are those activities provided on behalf of and in advocacy for students and as a result of the school counselors' interactions with others. This includes consultation, referrals, and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.