There are many roles that the professional school counselor is

responsible for fulfilling within the school community, but supporting students
with their social and emotional needs should be at the forefront of all of those
duties. According to ASCA, school counseling programs are collaborative
efforts benefiting students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the overall
school community. I strongly believe that in order for school counseling to be
effective, it must be a holistic effort made by all invested stakeholders. When
school counselors, classroom teachers, and other service providers work
together as a team, the school environment becomes a positive one that helps
students succeed. One of the most effective ways for the school counselor to
gauge where the greatest needs in the school are is by putting assessment tools
in place. Assessments help us to know if our work as counselors is successfully
benefiting the intended population.
School counselors must present themselves as leaders within the school.
They can assist administration in upholding the mission statement and culture
of the school. I feel that professional school counselors are instrumental in
identifying and helping to remove academic and social barriers for all students
in the school. It is our job, as counselors, to support positive learning
opportunities and make sure that students have the tools they need to be
successful while in school. I believe that even as early as elementary school,
counselors should be encouraging children to become upstanding citizens of
their community.
Another important responsibility that school counselors must take on is
that of advocacy. Being an advocate for not only students, but for families and
for the teachers. Through the process of advocating, the counselor is able to
present the needs of their students to administrative professionals, which in
turn, gives the students a strong and meaningful voice. I believe that advocacy
can help to open the communication lines between students and faculty.
Everyone deserves to have someone in their life that will advocate for them
with only their best interest in mind. Often times, the counselor is that person

for students while at school. Standing up as an advocate allows the opportunity

for the school counselor to model this type of school-wide collaboration.
It is imperative that school counselors operate through a multicultural
lens. In New York City it is important that we celebrate our culturally diverse
communities and make sure our schools are a place where children feel safe
regardless of their race, religion, socioeconomic status, or beliefs. As The
United States continues to evolve into an increasingly diverse society, school
counselors should have the necessary knowledge, skills, and awareness to
provide multiculturally competent counseling (Dodson, 2013). It is imperative
that we create school communities where children feel encouraged to thrive not
only academically, but also socially and emotionally.

References
Dodson, F. (2013). Exploring the Multicultural Competence of School Counselors. The
Journal for Counselor Preparation and Supervision, Volume 5(Issue 2), page18.
Retrieved from: http://www.ascanationalmodel.org/