Jackson Middle School

What does the school counselor do?

The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Counseling Association have developed guidelines for school counselors which comply with the Texas Education Code regarding the expectations of school counselors. The responsibilities of school counselors include the following domains:

Program Management – Counselors collaboratively plan, implement, evaluate and advocate for a comprehensive developmental guidance program that includes four components:

Guidance Curriculum

Responsive Services

Individual Planning

System Support

Program management requires organizing personnel, physical resources, and activities in relation to defined needs, priorities, and objectives in order to maintain the program’s contribution to the total educational program.

Guidance – In providing guidance, counselors proactively assist all students to develop and apply skills for maximum educational, career, personal, and social growth during school years and beyond. Counselors use guidance competencies to provide developmentally appropriate activities for all students. At Jackson Middle School, these guidance activities are planned by the counselors and presented to students during their Advisory class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These lessons are designed to help students acquire age-appropriate knowledge and skills within the scope of the following content areas:

· Self-confidence development

· Motivation to achieve

· Decision-making, goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving skills

· Interpersonal effectiveness

· Communication Skills

· Cross-cultural effectiveness

Responsible behavior

Counseling – Counseling is an intervention made available to all students and applying to those whose developmental needs, personal concerns, or problems affect their continued educational, career, personal or social development. While school guidance counselors do not provide therapy in the school setting, we make referrals as necessary when it appears that the student would benefit.

Consultation – Counselors, functioning as consultants, advocate for students and provide professional expertise to help faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and other community members understand individual behavior and human relationships. Counselors interpret relevant information to these persons concerning the development and needs of students. The counselor consults with others to increase the effectiveness of student education and promote student success.

Coordination – Counselors as coordinators bring together people and resources in the home, school, district, and community to support students’ optimal academic, career, personal, and social development. Working with students’ parents or guardians, and/or school personnel, counselors coordinate referrals to other resources as appropriate.

Student Assessment – In student assessment, the counselor’s role is to interpret standardized test results and other available student data to promote sound decision making among students and others involved in students’ development. Counselors also promote understanding of ethical and legal uses and limitations of assessment.