Perceived Roles

Personally I think the roles and responsibilities of guidance counselors are to ensure that students are matriculating in the appropriate manner, given a place to speak in confidence about academic and personal issues that may affect school performance and provided with various resources that will aid the student holistically.

I am sure that there are many other roles that guidance counselors play, but I think that those 3 are the primary responsibilities. Counselors are the gateway to the students transcript and performance record. They use information within the students transcripts to assist with placements and make recommendations for further class placements. They also provide students with a sounding board to address issues that may be of a personal or academic concern. Students can use them as a resource for emotional help and advice as it relates to exterior elements that can impact that students education. Lastly, counselors are also the extension of the school that provides students with outside resources that may be needed to aid students in need. Examples of these types of resources would be transportation, referrals for emotional therapy, family financial crisis and emergency aid for erratic and unusual behavior.