Historically, school counselors have worked as behavioral and academic intervention specialists — as well as resources for post-graduation planning. However, the role of the school counselor has changed as school resources have diminished and guidance counselor positions have disappeared. In order to continue serving their schools, counselors have become increasingly responsible for academic, social and emotional well-being.
So how can school counselors effectively manage their many responsibilities? Graduate programs like Lamar University’s Master of Education in School Counseling online have been approaching this dilemma with creative solutions, focusing on familiarizing degree candidates with the theories and concepts behind effective school counseling — as well as providing field work experience.
A Snapshot of School Counseling in Texas
The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of one school counselor to every 250 students. Yet, in many schools in Texas, budgetary restrictions have resulted in higher ratios. Between 2009 and 2013, the student population of Texas grew by 227,996, which has created a discrepancy between the number of students and the number of working counselors.
This problem is common throughout the country, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. Because of this, creative educators and degree programs are redefining the role of the school counselor by taking a proactive, innovative approach to confronting such a challenging situation.
Why Are School Counselors Necessary and What is Their Role?
The purpose of a school is to promote student learning and growth. The school community is also an environment where students develop physically, socially and emotionally. Therefore, a holistic approach to educating students should address all these aspects of student development. Although the traditional guidance counselor played an important role in directing students towards their future pursuits — as well as intervening in crises — school counselors today have more responsibilities, including the broader concept of holistic student development.
Increasingly, the school counselor guides students’ goal-setting and future academic pursuits — as well as maintaining their social and emotional health. This implies the need for general knowledge of the student body, including its cultural makeup. However, it also necessitates a personal understanding of students’ experiences — and time for continued counseling and student health development.
This holistic, long-term approach is a distinct departure from the older behavioral and academic intervention-based model. Intervention counseling develops sustainable growth and development in the individual, including self-monitoring skills, adjustment skills and coping skills. Effective intervention counseling should, in effect, eradicate the need for it in the student’s future.
How Can School Counselors Accomplish So Much?
School counselors today often have many responsibilities. Managing this workload in its entirety by themselves would be impossible. Successfully managing their responsibilities involves a creative approach to school counseling. School counselors can reduce their workloads by becoming involved in planning for teachers’ professional development. By integrating counseling skills into teachers’ skill sets, school counselors can create an educational team that is collectively responsible for students’ well-being and development.
In addition, many proactive counselors host regular workshops to teach students how to effectively monitor and counsel themselves. Alternatively, counselors struggling with budgetary limitations have implemented technology-based social skill development courses students can work through on their own.
Many educators believe that teaching social, emotional, and behavioral skills to students is essential to modern education. Moreover, this can and should be the responsibility of the entire school community, as it reinforces student development. Through educating their school communities and delegating responsibilities, school counselors can benefit their schools and the future of their students.
Learn more about the Lamar University online M.Ed. in School Counseling program.
Sources:
Houston Public Media: How One Counselor In Texas Advises Hundreds of Students
San Antonio Express-News: Texas Law Piling Work on School Counselors — Lots of It
NEA: With New Roles, School Counselors Are More Indispensable Than Ever
The Importance of High School Counselors
Edutopia: In Defense of School Counseling
