This article was originally published in the Reading Eagle: https://www.readingeagle.com/2023/02/16/superintendents-forum-celebrating-school-counselors/
By: Dr. Christy Haller, Exeter Township School District Superintendent
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Did you know that the first week of February is designated to celebrate the work of school counselors?
Today’s school counselors provide all students with a developmentally-appropriate and comprehensive counseling program. The responsibilities of the school counselor are vast and varied. This looks, feels, and sounds differently at all levels in order to meet the needs of our students. Additionally, counselors strive to collaborate with students and their families, teachers, administration and the community to provide an equitable, safe and nurturing environment.
As I visit the K-12 schools in the Exeter School District, I see our counselors out and about and engaged with students every day. Counselors can be found teaching lessons on a variety of topics, such as the traits of good citizenship. Counselors also spend countless hours welcoming new families and students into our schools while simultaneously and somewhat paradoxically making sure that students are academically, socially and emotionally prepared to leave them.
They help students research careers, explore post-secondary institutions, create resumes and complete surveys about their interests and goals. School counselors also involve parents in post-secondary planning by offering evening workshops that focus on college planning, the application process, financial aid, dual enrollment and scholarships.
Our counselors not only offer counseling support but continually come up with caring, compassionate, and comforting solutions to help students and their families find pathways to overcome barriers both in and outside school.
Although their role is complex, our counselors share a simple goal: to support and help every student succeed. As I reflect on all our school counselors do, I hope you will join me in thanking your child’s school counselor for the tremendous and essential work they do to help students every day!