School counselors have had to get creative in checking in with their students and are doing so through technology. While this has been quite helpful for some students, others are falling through the cracks. Many students are still learning remotely or are utilizing a hybrid format. School counselors utilize data to demonstrate how effective they are and advocate for additional resources to address social/emotional issues within their student body.Īs we learned during COVID-19, school counselors need to be tech-savvy. If an intervention used within the fall resulted in little change, a school district might not allocate funds to continue to use the same program. Data is also used to secure future funds. School counselors are held accountable to demonstrate the interventions they are utilizing are working. The gathering of data does not stop after a student is assessed but rather is just beginning. This goes beyond academics and includes aspects such as interpersonal skills and self-worth. School counselors need to identify any red flags in their students that may indicate the student is struggling. Self-care will enable school counselors to continue to be effective and available for their students.īecause of the prevalence of social/emotional issues within K-12, especially in the last few years, school counselors need to have assessment skills. The number of students experiencing anxiety, poor academic performance, and social-emotional deficits has increased, and the school counselors' role continues to expand and intensify. School counselors will need to possess self-care skills. School counselors will encounter increased academic performance issues amongst students, and student mental health issues will be pervasive. As mentioned above, school counselors will need to be flexible, adaptable, creative, and innovative with school-based interventions. School counselors will need to have well-developed communication skills and work as a team to support students and families.
Our graduates will need to have technological expertise and a strong understanding of school youth and their families, needs that have intensified as a result of the pandemic. Our graduates must possess many gifts to support students who have experienced significant issues related to the pandemic. Associate Professor of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies and Director of School Counseling program, Assumption University
0 kommentar(er)
