BUILDING THE PRINCIPAL’S LEADERSHIP TEAM: LEVERAGING THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Principals have resources within the school that can make their job easier. This program will provide an opportunity for reframing an understanding of the school counselor – principal relationship with attention given to the evolving role and functions of professional school counselors. Counselors possess developmental and clinical expertise and operate within a framework that is already aligned with Breaking Ranks recommendations as well as ISLLC (Interstate School Leaders Licensing Consortium) leadership standards and functions. Practical experiences and tools for leveraging this important resource will be provided.

SESSION OUTLINE
The purpose of this presentation is to provide school principals with the knowledge of how to develop and maintain a powerful, synergistic relationship with the school counselor that can be leveraged in the service of supporting student achievement and growth.

The following learner-outcomes will result from this presentation:
o A review of the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) national model and how it integrates with the ISLLC standards and aligns with the Breaking Ranks (NASSP - National Association of Secondary School Principals) model of school transformation;
o A new conceptualization of school counselors and their role;
o Practical examples of what it means to leverage this untapped expertise;
o Pragmatic guidelines for how to recruit, develop, and integrate the professional school counselor into the school leadership team;

Participants will receive the following specific takeaways:
o The ISLLC/ASCA “wheel,” a visual representation of the integration of the overlapping leadership and counselor practice standards;
o Suggested elements for a professional school counselor job description (to be used for hiring and/or strategically planning professional development activities;

This presentation incorporates the following instructional methodologies:
o Brief didactic presentation, followed by…
o Socratic discussion
o Case studies (2)
o School level
o Grade/classroom level
o Q&A

The expected content delivered in this presentation is as follows:
o Here’s how we collectively think about school counselors and consequently here’s how we use them and here’s how we limit them.
o We only conceive of putting the counselor in the “personalize” role, thereby eliminating a key resource on both the school leadership team and with regard to curriculum development, implementation, and assessment. (Breaking Ranks)
o Here’s what school counselors are becoming (ASCA) – updated role and functions, include:
o A primary role of promoting the healthy development of all students;
o Serving as developmental specialists; and
o Incorporating data-driven planning with developmental principles as a method for promoting student success.
o Here’s how principals must reframe their understanding so as to leverage the expertise. [getting away from the re-active / therapy role]
o An explanation of the alignment of ASCA, ISLLC, and Breaking Ranks
o Case study A – school level
o Case study B – grade or classroom level
o Job description, interview questions, and other takeaways