1. Perfecting the School Counselor Recipe: The key ingredients
Michigan School Counselor
Association Conference
Bob Bardwell
November 7,2016

2. Goals for this session Discuss how School Counselors
Improve student achievement and performance
Use data to inform their practice
Use evidence-based best practices
Identify and eliminate gaps
Deliver comprehensive school counseling programs
Reduce bullying & improve school climate
Share ideas, questions & resources
Learn something new and have fun

3. The audience HOW LONG 0-5 years 5-15 years 15+ years WHO IS HERE
Elementary Counselors
Middle/Jr High Counselors
Secondary Counselors
School Counseling Directors
Administrators
Higher Education Educators
Graduate Students
Other
HOW LONG
0-5 years
5-15 years
15+ years

4. Why Are You Here?
You want to provide advantages and opportunities to your students and families
You want to be a better school counselor
You want to learn some new strategies and skills
You were bored and needed to get out of your office
You have no where else to be today

5. So Why Me? What Can I Offer You?
School Counselor, K-12 Director of School Counseling and social justice educator
24 years in the profession
Leader – local, state, regional & national levels
Advocate for students, school counselors and our profession
Passionate about school counselor pre-service preparation and continuous professional development

6. Whately MA Map

10. Remember…..
“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead

11. What are the greatest challenges school counselors face today?
Think – Pair – Share
What are the greatest challenges school counselors face today?
How do you make a difference in the lives of your students?

12. Why are you a school counselor?
Jaime Escalante

13. We are here because….
Erin Gruwell

14. I make a difference in the lives of our students every day
Joe Clark

15. Is there a movie about school counselor heroes?
No!
If anything, we are portrayed in a negative manner
But we do have heroes….
Who is Molly Hudgens?
School Counselor, Sycamore Middle School, Pleasant View TN
Who is your school counselor hero?

17. School counseling challenges today
Lack of understanding concerning the role, responsibilities and skill set of School Counselors among administrators and policy makers
Setting boundaries – what is our role and how do we say no
Budget, resources and time!
Using data appropriately and effectively
New evaluation system
Inequities between the have and have nots
Increase number and severity of student mental health concerns
Lack of sufficient family engagement
Increase presence of social media and how to handle related issues
Helping "seasoned" School Counselors understand, embrace, and implement the new direction of the profession

18. Another question
How many of you are giving 110% already and cannot do any more?
Not eating lunch
No time to go to the bathroom
No prep
Bringing work home at night and weekends
I am going to ask you to do more

19. Here’s why?

20. And another reason
Meet John

21. So What?
You can either accept the status quo or decide to make a difference
You can step up to the plate and do something or continue to be part of the problem
Are you a Jaime Escalante, Erin Gruwell or Joe Clark?
Will you be a school counseling leader and advocate?

22. Change is in the air – the time is NOW
National attention & focus
First Lady’s efforts
Reach Higher
School Counselor of the Year Ceremony
Legislative efforts are making an impact
Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, Utah
Data shows school counselors make a difference
In Colorado $16 million spent between to hire counselors in 59 districts for at-risk students saved $319 million on welfare, incarceration and health-care costs

23. LEADERSHIP [lee-der-ship] noun
1. the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group
2. ability to lead
3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction
4. the leaders of a group

24. Leadership What does a leader look like in 2016? Someone who
has a passion
has a vision
is willing to make a commitment of time, talent & treasures
wants to make a difference

25. Why be a School Counselor Leader?
It helps your students and families receive better services
It brings recognition to your school counseling program
There are numerous opportunities at the local, state and national level
Why not?
Change is in the air – the time is NOW

26. 2016 Leadership Challenges
Limited time
Too busy; too much work; not appealing
List of challenges is great
Lack of interest among school counselors
Limited resources to do the job well

27. School Counseling Program based leadership
Create vision and mission
Set goals based on identified needs & gaps
Create & implement developmental lessons/ curriculum
Create & execute annual agreement
Participate and/or chair committees
Collect, analyze & share data & results
Conduct needs assessment & ongoing evaluation
Read

28. Are you a school counseling leader?
Turn to a neighbor
What are your leadership strengths?
How do you show your leadership skills?
Are you encouraged to be a school counseling leader? If so, how?

29. ADVOCACY [ad-vuh-kuh-see] Noun
1. the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending; active espousal:

30. Who do we advocate with? Colleagues Administrators School boards
Parents/Families
Community members
Local media - newspaper, cable station, radio & television
Community groups – PTA, Rotary, Realtors
Elected officials/policy makers
Strangers

31. What is your elevator speech?
School counselors ensure that each student achieves at his/her highest level possible. They collaborate with teachers, administrators, family members and service providers outside of the school to provide services and support necessary for student access and success. They advocate for every student to ensure their academic, career and persona/social needs are met. School counselors are leaders and systemic change agents in their schools, working with all stakeholders to ensure that they are using data and evidence based practices that inform decision making and produce results. They are the glue that holds a school together and are super heroes for our children and families.

32. How do we advocate? Talk about what school counselors do
Demonstrate with data our impact on student success and achievement
Share our program results with stakeholders
Go to meetings
Use social media to inform/motivate others
Write letters to the editor
Submit press releases with photo ops
Invite policy makers to school counseling events

33. SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Systemic means working with school systems—district bureaucracies or state departments of education—to effect change

34. How are you a systemic change agent?
Gather data
Ask questions
Build a coalition
Make people excited to impact student success and achievement
Influence policy development and implementation
Be a passionate social justice advocate

35. COLLABORATION [kuh-lab-uh-rey-shuh n] noun
1. the act or process of collaborating.
2. a product resulting from collaboration:

36. How do you collaborate? Working with stakeholders Share your vison
Administrators
Staff
Parents
Community members
Share your vison
Beliefs
Vision statement
Mission statement
Goals

37. How do you collaborate? (continued)
Communications
Newsletter, website
Social media
Serving on committees/task forces
Leadership teams
Site based management teams
Share your results
Closing the gap reports

38. How do you collaborate? (continued)
Advisory council
Consists of representatives from all constituent groups
Meets 2-3 times per year
Opportunity to educate members and gather feedback about your school counseling program
Can help you advocate for school counseling program priorities

39. How do you collaborate? (continued)
Community partnerships
Neighborhood councils
Faith based organizations
Workforce development
Post-secondary education
Municipal representatives
Local/state child welfare agencies
Local clinical mental health agencies
Medical professionals

40. What have we just done?
ASCA National Model Themes

41. School counselors & school improvement
Specialized Interventions
Individual Consultation
Small Group or
Closing the Gap
Core Curriculum
Information provided for all students
Smith, G (2008)

42. School Counselors using data
Why school counselors?
What data is important?
Achievement
Achievement related
Competency
Who is on your school data team?

43. Evidence based practices
“…using the best available research to guide practice and the integration of this knowledge with clinical skills.”

44. Why evidence based practices?
National and state accountability measures require all educators, including school counselors, to show why our students are different as a result of our services
Common Core State Standards and accompanying assessments (PARCC & Smarter Balance) will determine student achievement
Data speaks volumes as it is often more powerful than other types of feedback

45. Evidence based practice resources
National Center for School Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation
National Evidence Based Conference
Curricula
The Real Game -
Student Success Skills -
What Works Clearinghouse

46. What kinds of gaps are there?
Achievement
Opportunity
Belief or expectations
Aspirations-Attainment

47. Achievement Gap
The consistent disparity in academic performance between groups of students.
Most often found in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college-completion rates
Groups most often compared include race, gender, socioeconomic status, special education status and English language proficiency

48. Opportunity Gap
The unconscionable disparity in access to the quality educational resources needed for all children to be academically successful
Similar to the achievement gap but is different in that it may have nothing to do with race, gender, socioeconomic status, special education status and English language proficiency
Instead it may be where you live or which school you attend and what resources are available to those children

49. Belief or Expectations Gap
The differing expectations that teachers hold for individual students or the difference between students' expectations of themselves and what they perceive to be teachers‘/counselors’ opinion of their potential
This is particularly troubling when counselors do not believe or expect certain students to achieve.
Often found in course selection and post high school planning

50. Aspirations-Attainment Gap
The difference between students wanting to get a diploma/degree (aspiration) and actually receiving it (attainment)
Are we overselling the value of a diploma/degree?
What role do we school counselors play in this process?

51. Why do gaps matter to us?
As social justice educators we believe that ALL students should have equal access and opportunity regardless of whatever group they may belong to/identify with or where they live
If schools/communities do not eliminate gaps then whole groups of students may be discriminated against
Some gaps can be addressed within a school relatively easily while others are more systemic and caused by deep-seeded values and cultural norms.

52. So what? Why School Counselors?
Many gaps are caused by deep seeded beliefs, cultural norms or political decisions
School counselors are uniquely trained to identify and address these gaps
School counselors should be instrumental in identifying students who are associated with one of the various gaps and work with school leaders to put strategies in place to eliminate them

53. Eliminating/Reducing Gaps
Do your policies allow equal access to the curriculum for all students?
Does your data suggest some groups are not achieving equally? If so, what is your plan to rectify this?
Do all of your staff believe all students can achieve? Does the data support this?
Do you spend time at your faculty or professional development meetings talking about gaps?

54. 10 Practices to Close the Gaps
Show students you believe they can be successful by using a "here's how to do better next time" approach when you need to correct work. Let students know what they're doing well.
Share with each student individually what you expect from him or her.
Hold students accountable for their actions.
Encourage students to share success stories with one another.
Follow up on absent students. Let them know it's because you care about them, not just to chase down missing work.
Invite students to brown-bag lunches in your room. Promising homemade cookies helps!
Survey students about their personal, social, and academic goals at the beginning of each term.
Involve all students in school leadership initiatives by using student surveys and fostering dialogue about important issues. Show you value students' opinions.
Create a classroom atmosphere that welcomes participation. Ask open-ended questions and set a "There are no stupid questions" policy.
Develop after-school opportunities focused on the interests of students who shun traditional activities.
ASCD, Closing Opportunity Gaps, November 2010 | Volume 68 | Number 3

55. School Counselors & Bullying
Are often the first adult to become aware of a bullying incident
Should work closely with the disciplinarian to address individual bulling incidents
See the bigger picture and identify themes/commonalities
Included in any plan or initiative to provide student and staff education and training

56. School Counselors & School Climate
Interact with all stakeholders regularly
Have earned the trust of stakeholders who share thoughts and observations
Have a pulse of the school and community
Can use data to address issues/concerns
Should be part of any leadership/school climate team

57. So What’s the Secret Recipe?
Systemic change
Bullying reduction
Leadership =
Targeted interventions
Collaboration
Improved school climate
Use of data
Advocacy

58. Student Success and Achievement

59. Create your own action plan
Next steps
What are four things you can commit to right now to improve your school counseling program?
Create your own action plan
In one day
In one week
In one month
In one year
Share your goals

60. Resources available
Go to > presentations > Kansas 2016
This PowerPoint presentation
ASCA National Model Executive Summary
ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
ASCA School Counselor Competencies
ASCA Ethical Standards
College Board publications
Finding the Way
Enhancing the Principal-Counselor Relationship
A Closer Look - toolkit
Common Core & School Counselor documents

61. Questions & Conversations
What is not clear?
What more do you need?
How can we help each other?
Who wants to share a school counselor success in your school/district?

62. For more information Bob Bardwell
School Counselor & Director of School Counseling
Monson High School
55 Margaret Street
Monson, MA
x1109
bardwellr