Denver Public Schools Blueprint for District-Wide School Counseling Support

What is the ‘IT’ that these people have? They Have ‘IT’: They Own the Turf!

Ancient History (until 2007) ◦ How did DPS get to this point? ◦ Advisory Committee vs. Leadership Team  Difference in Philosophy  Amount of Empowerment

Recent History ( ) How do we define ourselves and our work? ◦ Professional School Counselors are… How do we want to be known as in three years? What is our ideal state? (start of the SCLT) ◦ How will we get there? ◦ Three-year Strategic Plan was developed with yearly milestones

Structures to Support SCLT Implementation Retreat Monthly Meetings ◦ PDU ◦ Homework Asks Open Team Targeted recruitment (ie – begging) to ensure representation

Current Work (2011- present) Revisiting Mission, Beliefs and Philosophy Developing Vision Data Elements Plan to impact Data Elements through PD

Leadership Development Collaboration Shared Vision & Mission Team Decision-Making SCHOOL COUNSELING LEADERSHIP TEAM Leadership Development Collaboration Shared Vision & Mission Team Decision-Making SCHOOL COUNSELING LEADERSHIP TEAM Department & Individual Needs Assessment based on Performance Standards PD Planning & Implementation Department & Individual Performance Theoretical Framework

Urban School Counseling Initiative Creating Alignment Between the State, District and School Counseling State Vision & Mission School District Vision & Mission Our mission as professional school counselors is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program to ensure that all students graduate from DPS college and career ready and successfully pursue postsecondary opportunities that prepare them to be productive world citizens. Vision: Mission: District-wide Transformed School Counseling Vision and Mission Mission: The mission of the Colorado State Board of Education is to provide all of Colorado’s children equal access to quality, thorough, uniform, well-rounded educational opportunities in a safe and civil learning environment. Vision: All children in Colorado will become educated and productive citizens. The mission of the Denver Public Schools is to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our diverse society. Post Secondary Readiness: Our mission is to ensure that all Denver Public Schools students graduate and successfully pursue postsecondary opportunities that prepare them to be productive world citizens. All Denver Public School students become lifelong learners and productive world citizens.

School Counseling Leadership Team What DATA ELEMENTS do we, as DPS School Counselors, OWN? ◦ Asked several subgroups of School Counselors ◦ Variety of answers

School Counseling Leadership Team

School Counseling Data Elements

Data Elements? Brainstorm session!

What do School Counselors need to KNOW and BE ABLE TO DO to move these Data Elements? Brainstorm session!

School Counseling Leadership Team

Q: How do we PRIORITIZE this huge list of elements? A: HOW WELL do School Counselors currently know or are able to do the priority elements? Department Reviews Individual Counselor Surveys

Denver Public Schools Counseling Department Reviews

Zoomerang Survey - Areas to Target Percent of Counselors who indicated they are “Meeting” & “Exceeding”

Tier 1 - Counseling PD Blueprint Using data from: ◦ Counseling Department Reviews ◦ Individual Counseling Knowledge and Skills Survey Results in Universal Counselor PD on: ◦ Access to Data & How to Use Data to Intentionally Target Change ◦ District & Community Trends and Expectations ◦ College-Going Culture PK – 12: Strategies towards Improvement ◦ Analyzing Data to Show Results & Presenting Information

Universal Professional Development (how) Access & Use of Data District/Community Trends & Expectations College/Career Readiness ECE-12 Analyzing & Sharing Data Optional Three Day Summer Academy:

1 st PD – Data Knowledge Areas of Need

2 nd PD – District / Trends Areas of Need

3 rd PD - College & Career Readiness

4 th PD - Communication/Presentations Areas of Need

Tier 2 - Counseling PD Blueprint Using data from: ◦ Counseling Department Reviews ◦ Individual Counseling Knowledge and Skills Survey Results in Targeted PD on: ◦ New Counselor Network ◦ New Counselor Mentoring ◦ PEP Trainings ◦ Transitions ◦ RAMP ◦ School Counseling Leadership

Targeted Professional Development ◦ New Counselor Network ◦ New Counselor Mentoring ◦ PEP Trainings ◦ Transitions ◦ RAMP ◦ School Counseling Leadership

Tier 3 - Counseling PD Blueprint Using data from: ◦ Counseling Department Reviews ◦ Individual Counseling Knowledge and Skills Survey ◦ Other Data Sources (Time Task Analyses) ◦ Anecdotal Data Results in REALLY Targeted PD through: ◦ Individual School Site Visits and Problem Solving/Support

Department and Counselor Performance Sharing of Best Practices & Resources ◦ Wiki PD ◦ Highlighting Best Practices with each other Next Survey ◦ Looking for improvement Next Department Review ◦ Looking for improvement

Counselor Resource Page (Wiki) Denver Public Schools District Counseling Plan Denver Public Schools District Counseling Plan Data Element Power Point Examples ASCA Elements DPS Counseling Website:

As we move forward… Plans Survey this spring (instead of summer) Using June SCLT Retreat to plan out PD for Naturally Occurring Shared Leadership, not just Cori More ownership to the work More feelings of empowerment More connections to drive the work forward, Increased relationships More cohesion within district

Continued Work & Challenges Distributive & Shared Leadership ◦ Recruitment to SCLT! Advisory Board Increased Visibility ◦ School Board Presentations On-going work with cohesion issues ◦ Within schools ◦ District-wide ◦ Resistance! Time (as always) Balance & stability amidst waves of change

How to DO THIS Yourselves Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

 Big Picture/Vision  Dedicated times  Ask for support – HOW are you asking to be supported? What does support look like?  Empowering ourselves: OWN THE TURF Team Approach

Tools for the Team Action Plan How to Start a Team ◦ Identify like-thinking people ◦ Commitment to Move Forward: (Bus?) ◦ Meeting days/times/locations How to get Support ◦ WHAT do you need to be successful? ◦ WHO do you ask for this support? ◦ What will be the BENEFITS for supporting this work?  How will students be different because of this work? Defining Counseling Vision Work ◦ How do we want to be known in three years? ◦ Vision/Mission Alignment Template Data Elements Brainstorm List ◦ How to develop survey based on list ◦ NON-anonymous (to use to deliver the PD)

Money Barriers? Summer Academy Strategy

Get on the Bus!

Thank You! Denver Public Schools School Counseling Leadership Team Cori Canty, Director of Counseling, dpsk12.org Heather Dix, Professional School Counselor, Julia Henrichs, Counseling Internship Supervisor, Shanna Henry, Counseling Grants Manager, Joe Naughton, Professional School Counselor, Cathy Rowley, Professional School Counselor, Kathey Thompson, Professional School Counselor,