This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
"Changed Impressions"
After reading the links provided all I can really say is "Wow". I had no idea how much the Guidance Counselors are responsible for. The name should be changed to Guidance and Counseling to better explain what they do. I was vaguely aware of some of the responsibilities but the research brought it into the clear. The guidance counselors serve as social counselor ,behavior counselor, student to teachers liaison, student to parent liaison and teacher to parent liaison along with providing academic and career guidance.They have a ton of responsibility and I know I would need counseling after a couple of weeks doing the job they are required to do. I am also impressed that the GADOE site shows how soon the elementary counselors start preparing students for CTE.
Ken, many people do not realize the varied duties of a Guidance Counselor. As you said, the only way to describe the required duties is “WOW”. You are correct about how flexible Guidance Counselors must be, and it is responsibilities that are challenging and requires many facets of communication. The Guidance Counselor’s main objective must be to ensure that the student’s needs are met. That objective cannot be achieved if the counselor is not open to communication with the parents, teachers and students. Most parents and teachers want their student to be successful, whether the problems come from social, academic, or learning disabilities. Many parents want to be included and assume responsibility to help their child become successful, while there are others that appear to not be interested. They simply want to let the Guidance Counselor and teachers take care of their child’s problem(s). That situation is troubling for an educator that cares about their students. You are correct the joy of helping students achieve success is not related to the money they may earn or the possessions they will acquire. To see or learn that your students are happy and meeting the challenges they face in life is called success. When students are successful, that makes a Guidance Counselor know they, too, are successful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle
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