School counselors are essential members of the education team. As certified educators with a minimum of a master’s degree, they are uniquely qualified to meet the academic, social/emotional needs of all students. In addition to direct student interaction, school counselors promote student success through their leadership, advocacy and collaborative efforts under the framework of a comprehensive school counseling program.
The ultimate goal of a comprehensive school counseling program is student success. The program’s design, delivery and content are dedicated to enhancing the ability of all students to fully utilize the educational opportunities available to them. The challenges of today’s society require school counselors to leave behind the traditional methods and adopt new proactive measures. Through a Rowland Fellowship, my plan is to create a Stowe High School comprehensive school counseling model for grades 9-12 for enhancing the school counseling program from an academic focus provided for some to a program for every student that encompasses all three American School Counseling (ASCA) national domains (career, academic, social/emotional).
Using a comprehensive model is responsive to the changing needs of school counseling in the Lamoille South Unified Union, Stowe High School, Vermont and our entire country. My hope is that every Vermont school will employ a professional school counselor who is available to assist all students in successfully navigating their academic experiences, assisting them in making informed decisions concerning their career paths and supporting them as they learn to explore, understand and manage their social/emotional development. I look forward to developing a comprehensive school counseling model for Stowe High School that can be used by other Vermont school counselors. I’m excited to be professionally involved in this innovative and comprehensive approach in helping all students prepare to become the next generation of workers, leaders and citizens.
