Who are School Counselors?

A school counselor is a professional who works in primary (elementary and middle) schools or secondary schools to provide academic, career, college access/affordability/admission, and social-emotional competencies to all students through a school counseling 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
 -plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force)

Appropriate duties include providing:
 -individual student academic planning and goal setting
 -school counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
 -short-term counseling to students
 -referrals for long-term support
 -collaboration with families/teachers/ administrators/ community for student success
 -advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
 -data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges
 -acting as a systems change agent to improve equity and access, achievement and opportunities for all students