What Do School Counselors Do?
Our top priority is advocating for students. We collaborate with students, parents, teachers, and administration to help students be successful. We do this in a variety of ways:
1. EVERY STUDENT
a. School Counselors work to provide opportunities for every student to be successful. We celebrate differences and focus on strengths.
b. Programs in place for student success include: Spartan Code Enrichment Lessons, Spartan Academy, Support Classes, and effectively utilizing support staff.
2. PLAN FOR CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS
a. School Counselors meet with each student and parent/guardian for a College and Career Readiness planning meeting.
b. School Counselors facilitate career assessments to determine student interests and potential pathways for education.
c. College and Career Awareness (CCA) lessons given to 7th grade students by school counselors in College and Career Awareness Classes.
3. DROPOUT PREVENTION
a. School Counselors participate in Local Case Management Team meetings on a weekly basis.
b. School Counselors help facilitate drop out prevention measures such as: credit recovery classes, remediation assistance before a term ends, support staff to assist students, and summer credit recovery.
c. School Counselors meet with Elementary and High School Counselors to provide information to help students transition to their next school.
d. School Counselors believe all students have the ability to learn and to be successful in the school setting. South Davis Jr. High utilizes a Pyramid of Intervention to ensure the success of every student.
4. COMMUNITY CONNECTION
a. School Counselors help students and parents/guardians feel connected to the school by hosting the following events: Spartan Camp (7th Grade orientation), Back-to-School night, Parent-Teacher conferences, Community Council meetings.
5. RESPONSIVE SERVICES
a. Responsive services are short-term counseling interventions to resolve immediate conflicts/problems, respond to crisis events, and intervene in school-specific situations that disrupt learning. School staff, parents/guardians, community members, and students can initiate responsive services.
6. REGISTRATION
a. School Counselors help students register and select classes.
7. DATA
a. School Counselors use data to drive programs and measure program effectiveness.
b. School Counselors meet with teachers and administration to address concerns and find the best possible solutions for students.
8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
a. School Counselors participate in trainings provided by the Davis School Counseling Association, the Utah School Counseling Association, and the American School Counseling Association