1. Role of the School Counselor
Office of Prevention & Intervention

2. Introductions & Do-Now
Why did you become a counselor? What’s one goal you have this year? What do you remember about your school counselor?
10 minutes
Introductions & large group share out

3. Community Builder Stand Next to your desk
One at a time, each participant will state something they enjoy doing (self-care activities)
If you agree, take a step forward
The icebreaker will be a large group activity. Each individual will stand up, next to their desk, in the U shape. We will go around the circle, each individual will say one self-care activity that they enjoy. For each person that agrees, they will step forward. If you do not agree, you will just stand in place. This activity is utilized as a warm-up session/re-focus brain break.

4. Objectives To highlight the roles of a School Counselor in the School District of Philadelphia Norms Start on time/end on time Ensure equity of voice Value and consider different perspectives Use of technology for session related purposes

5. School counselors provide consultation to teachers and administrators to accomplish Academic, College & Career and Social/Emotional goals. The collaborative work of our teachers, parents, agency representatives, and all members of the schools community, led by the school counselor, is needed to support our students in reaching these goals. (SDP - District Counseling Plan)
Rationale slide for the role of the school counselor

6. What services do school counselors provide?
Academic Program Goals
College & Career Program Goals
Social/Emotional Program Goals
Add Counseling program goals for each point…

7. Academic Program Goals
To help students understand their individual learning styles and encourage them to develop skills that will enable them to reach their academic potential and become lifelong learners.
To help students assess and self-monitor their academic performance.
To help students identify their barriers to learning and support them to address these barriers.

8. College and Career Program Goals
To help students choose and advance in a program that will enable them to reach their future academic and career goals.
To provide students with the opportunity to assess personal interests and aptitudes in relation to career interest.
To help students discover career pathways through various college and career resources and exposure to a broad spectrum of careers.

9. Social/Emotional Program Goals
To assist students to build empathy and develop positive interpersonal relationship skills involving respect for diversity and cultural competence.
To assist students in developing resiliency and effective coping skills.
To assist students to develop appropriate problem-solving and decision making skills to resolve conflicts.

10. ASCA National Model
Foundation: Determines the academic, career, and personal social needs of the students
Delivery System: The foundation of the ASCA model is delivered through addressing the students needs in four delivery methods: SCHOOL GUIDANCE CURRICULUM, INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PLANNING, RESPONSIVE SERVICES, AND SYSTEM SUPPORT. Delivery method refers back to the MTSS model
Management: Measures the efficacy and the impact of the school counseling program
Accountability: evaluates the school counseling program via outcomes and makes adjustments to the program as necessary and tailored to the specific needs

11. What Does Data Say?
School counselors who are implementing comprehensive, data driven school counseling programs are able to show the direct impact on the school community and how their targeted interventions are making a difference.

12. Leader of the Pack
The School Counselor is the leader of the SAP (Student Assistance Program) within the school setting.
The school SAP Team (focus on MTSS & the tier process) comprises of key leadership members that determines needs of students in the school and makes recommendations for interventions
The School Counselor is seen the gate keeper of behavioral interventions for the student body

13. Intervention Teams School Counselor S.E.L School Based Teacher Leader
Climate Manager
Dean of Students
School Nurse
Assistant Principal*
The role of the intervention team is to meet on a weekly basis to appropriate tier individuals needing levels of interventions. As students move through the MTSS tiered system, the school counselor will document the response to intervention and their appropriate placement in interventions. If your school has an assistant principal designated for behavioral supports and management, they can be included in the intervention team as well.

14. Services and Interventions
Individual Counseling
Small Group Counseling
Consultation on Student Behavioral Support Planning
Crisis Intervention & Behavioral Health Emergencies
SAP Referrals (Agency Referrals)
Consultation to Leadership Team
Peer Facilitation
Each school has an outside SAP provider. The SAP referral is one of the first steps in the Tier 3 process in getting an individual connected with outside services. We, as a school district, do not make diagnosis, we refer out for professional assessment of needs, which can be completed by the SAP provider/assessor.

15. System Support
The School Counselor assists with the management of activities that establish, maintain, and enhance the comprehensive school counseling program.
Components include:
Professional Development
Consultation
Community Outreach
IN regards to professional development, the school counselor will take the lead role in training of Act 71 (suicide prevention) within their school building. At teams, the school counselor will be called upon to take the role of lead trainer and provide turn around trainings to staff in the building.

16. Explain the MTSS model and how only 5% of students in school should be Tier 3 (STS, outside services, individual counseling) Tier 2- around 15% of students (in school services; more intense such as small groups- identified by need- the groups) daily check-in check-out) Tier 1 (80% of students in school) and these interventions occur within the classroom and can be categorized by assistance with classroom management and observations.

17. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program
Increased Student Achievement
Reduced Discipline Referrals
Higher Graduation Rates
Lower Retention Rates
Improved Attendance
What are the benefits of having one…aka...why we do what we do!

18. Points of Reference
School District of Philadelphia Counselor Rubric is a guideline for roles of the school counselor and a continual point of reference when developing your school counseling plan
Utilize this time to show the rubric and ways to browse through it. Pull up the counselor rubric at this slide and walk the counselors through it.

19. Counselor Planning Time
Pair up into groups of two
Visualize & create your plan for your first week as a new counselor in your building
Key points to consider:
Assessing your schools needs
Introductions & classroom visits
Plans to involve yourself in back to school night
Creation of/ideas for brochure or PowerPoint for Back to School Night (ASCA Model) on the role of the school counselor in your building
30 minute Work on this activity for 15 minutes and share out ideas the last 15 minutes

20. OFFICE OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES OFFICE OF PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
Prevention & Intervention Liaisons
James Adams : 215 –
Johanna Agnew : 215 –
John Hale : 215 –
Tania Leonard : 215 –
Korbin Reynolds : 215 –
Tara Ryans : 215 –
Damian Vargas : 215 –
Deputy Chief, Lori Paster Director: Trauma-Informed School Practices, Iesha Brown-Pygatt Student Support Specialist, Latesha Watson