COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Doctors, nurses, EMT’s and teachers have been deemed the heroes of this ongoing pandemic and rightly so. This week, however, the school districts are celebrating the unsung heroes who continue to make a difference in and out of schools on a daily basis, the guidance counselors.“I’ve called them and of course I’m biased… the most valuable player or staff member at the school,” said Steve McFadden, the K-8 Counseling Coordinator for Collier County Schools. “I truly believe that the school counselor because of their training, because of their skill set, because of their flexibility, their absolute to adapt to change and to adjust and do what’s right and what’s necessary…maintain the old programs while developing new programs and problem-solving on the fly…makes them the most valuable player at the school,” McFadden said.It’s not just McFadden who feels this way. FGCU School Counseling Program Director Dr. Russell Sabella agrees. “It’s a time for us to recognize and celebrate the positive difference school counselors make in the lives of all students and families,” Sabella said. Through Friday, Feb 5, it’s National School Counselor Appreciation Week. A week Sabella says is well deserved since so little do people actually know just how demanding a School Counselors’ job really is.“Right now the average is one school counselor for about every 500 kids!” Sabella said. “They do what it takes to put together teams that do three things: one- is look at academic outcomes- how are students meeting their learning needs. Another one is helping students become more college and career ready!” She emphasizes the qualifications every School Counselor must have in order to get a job. “Our program is a minimum of 50 credits. Master’s degree. That’s a lot. Hundreds of supervised hours of counseling,” she said. Not to mention, the skills and ability to adapt at a moment’s notice. “We learn other people’s responsibilities just to help educate,” Allison Ferraro, the 9-12 Counseling Coordinator for the Collier County School District, said.“You may have a schedule or a do-list for a day and then you have a kid in crisis walk into your office and things happen.”Because of all the new challenges brought on by the pandemic, Ferraro and McFadden both say they expect this year’s appreciation week to hit a bit differently than years in the past. “I hope it just rings a little bit more true to them that we are really in the trenches trying to navigate this for all students,” Ferraro said. “Academics, social/emotional and then career development. So what an incredible honor to be able to do all that.”National School Counselor Appreciation Week kicked off on Monday, February 1st and runs through Friday, February 5th.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Doctors, nurses, EMT’s and teachers have been deemed the heroes of this ongoing pandemic and rightly so.
This week, however, the school districts are celebrating the unsung heroes who continue to make a difference in and out of schools on a daily basis, the guidance counselors.
“I’ve called them and of course I’m biased… the most valuable player or staff member at the school,” said Steve McFadden, the K-8 Counseling Coordinator for Collier County Schools.
“I truly believe that the school counselor because of their training, because of their skill set, because of their flexibility, their absolute to adapt to change and to adjust and do what’s right and what’s necessary…maintain the old programs while developing new programs and problem-solving on the fly…makes them the most valuable player at the school,” McFadden said.
It’s not just McFadden who feels this way. FGCU School Counseling Program Director Dr. Russell Sabella agrees.
“It’s a time for us to recognize and celebrate the positive difference school counselors make in the lives of all students and families,” Sabella said.
Through Friday, Feb 5, it’s National School Counselor Appreciation Week.
A week Sabella says is well deserved since so little do people actually know just how demanding a School Counselors’ job really is.
“Right now the average is one school counselor for about every 500 kids!” Sabella said. “They do what it takes to put together teams that do three things: one- is look at academic outcomes- how are students meeting their learning needs. Another one is helping students become more college and career ready!”
She emphasizes the qualifications every School Counselor must have in order to get a job.
“Our program is a minimum of 50 credits. Master’s degree. That’s a lot. Hundreds of supervised hours of counseling,” she said.
Not to mention, the skills and ability to adapt at a moment’s notice.
“We learn other people’s responsibilities just to help educate,” Allison Ferraro, the 9-12 Counseling Coordinator for the Collier County School District, said.“You may have a schedule or a do-list for a day and then you have a kid in crisis walk into your office and things happen.”
Because of all the new challenges brought on by the pandemic, Ferraro and McFadden both say they expect this year’s appreciation week to hit a bit differently than years in the past.
“I hope it just rings a little bit more true to them that we are really in the trenches trying to navigate this for all students,” Ferraro said. “Academics, social/emotional and then career development. So what an incredible honor to be able to do all that.”
National School Counselor Appreciation Week kicked off on Monday, February 1st and runs through Friday, February 5th.
FAQs
National School Counselor Week – Feb. 5 – 9th | Florida School Counselor Association.
What do you say for Counselor Appreciation Day? ›
Thank you for caring so much. Thank you for being so brave. Thank you for being a school counselor. You are valued beyond measure.
Are school counselors overworked? ›
School counselors specifically are at risk for experiencing feelings of burnout because of their multiple job demands, including paperwork, parent conferences, school-wide testing, large caseloads, and requests from administrators (McCarthy & Lambert, 2008), and other factors such as role ambiguity and limited ...
What is the meaning of school counselor week? ›
National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
What does a typical day look like for a school counselor? ›
School counselors may teach classes or hold special awareness events on topics such as bullying, abuse or eating disorders. They look out for possible cases of abuse, neglect or self-harm and report parents or individuals to the proper authorities when necessary.
How do you show appreciation for school counselors? ›
Decorate their doors with signs expressing gratitude for the work school counselors do and the difference they make in students' lives. Have your class create a poster where each student shares something they appreciate about their school counselor. Bring them a special gift or treat.
What do you say to thank a school counselor? ›
Dear School Counselors, Thank you for being a main source of continuity for students amidst changes and challenges both inside and outside of school. Your thoughtful encouragement and consistent presence helps students to feel seen and supported. Thank you for reaching beyond the school walls to support families.
Why do school counselors quit? ›
These school counselors and school psychologists report that about 25% to 50% of their day is consumed with paperwork and other miscellaneous duties. Constantly working outside their areas of expertise and desired practice is leading to burnout that leads many to leave the field.
What is the hardest part of being a school counselor? ›
Navigating parental expectations and involvement, especially when it comes to college applications and future plans, can be challenging. High school counselors need to manage the balance between meeting parental expectations and aligning with the best interests of the students.
How old are most school counselors? ›
73.9% of all school counselors are women, while 26.1% are men. The average school counselor age is 41 years old. The most common ethnicity of school counselors is White (67.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.2%), Black or African American (10.6%) and Unknown (3.8%).
At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, school counselors rate their career happiness 3.5 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 33% of careers.
What is the main goal of a school counselor? ›
School counselors and members of the support team help students set short- and long-term goals, improve attendance, reduce and resolve conflicts, and prevent youth suicide.
What is my purpose as a school counselor? ›
School counselors work to maximize student success, promoting access and equity for all students. As vital members of the school leadership team, school counselors create a school culture of success for all. School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes.
What are the disadvantages of being a school counselor? ›
These are some disadvantages of being a school counselor:
- Training and education. Depending on a person's educational path and training, it can take six to eight years to become a school counselor. ...
- Pace and resources. School counselors may work in fast-paced and challenging environments. ...
- Compensation.
Here are 10 reasons to start and advance your career as a school counselor:
- Perform diverse responsibilities. ...
- Enjoy social interaction. ...
- Experience self-discovery. ...
- Create a safe space. ...
- Experience career growth. ...
- Enjoy a flexible and autonomous schedule. ...
- Enhance teaching efficacy. ...
- Connect parents and students.
You can show your appreciation for them by providing them with meaningful feedback and share what has helped you and what was difficult. Your therapist would probably also appreciate it if you left a positive review on their practice's website or Google page.
How do you write a good appreciation message? ›
Simple appreciation messages
- 1 Thanks for your help with X.
- 2 I really appreciate all of your hard work.
- 3 You've been so helpful with X. ...
- 4 Sending you some much-deserved appreciation for X.
- 5 I'm lucky to call you a friend. ...
- 6 I appreciate all of your help during this difficult time.
When you get great advice, you may show your appreciation with these phrases:
- I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me.
- Thanks for the helpful advice!
- Thank you for sharing your advice with me.
- Thanks for agreeing to give me some advice.
- Thank you for offering your valuable advice.
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