Counseling
Wildflower School Counselors
Gemile L. Cobb MA, NCC
719-579-3722
Why Elementary School Counselors?
Elementary school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, school counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, school counselors can help all children achieve academic success. The professional elementary school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.
Meeting the Challenge
Elementary school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Elementary school counselors don’t work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program.
Elementary School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:
School Guidance Curriculum
· Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
· Goal setting and decision-making
· Career awareness, exploration and planning
· Education on understanding self and others
Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
· Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
· Substance abuse education
· Multicultural/diversity awareness
Individual Student Planning
· Academic planning
· Goal setting/decision- making
· Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
· Transition plans
Responsive Services
· Individual and small-group counseling
· Individual/family/school crisis intervention
· Conflict resolution
· Consultation/collaboration
· Referrals
System Support
· Professional development
· Consultation, collaboration and teaming
· Program management and operation
Elementary School Counselors Collaborate with:
Parents
Parent education
Communication/networking
Academic planning
College/career awareness programs
One-on-one parent conferencing
Interpretation of assessment results
Teachers
Classroom guidance activities
Academic support, including learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically
Classroom speakers
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
Administrators
School climate
Behavioral management plans
School-wide needs assessments
Student data and results
Student assistance team building
Students
Peer education
Peer support
Academic support
School climate
Leadership development
Community
Job shadowing, service learning
Crisis interventions
Referrals
Parenting classes
Support groups
Career education
