The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is starting a new #prinleaderchat every Sunday at 9:00 pm EST. We will be starting this Sunday October 2. Our schedule is listed on this google spreadsheet https://goo.gl/SI9LVo.
Aloha! Welcome to the #PrinLeaderChat 'Ohana! Tonight 2016 @NASSP Digital Principal @bobby__dodd discusses "How Leaders Support School Counseling." Please introduce yourselves.
Tonight we will use Q1, Q2, etc for questions. Please respond with A1, A2, etc for your responses.
Always remember to include #PrinLeaderChat in your tweets
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1: We have added staff and added programs such as Freshmen Experience for current freshmen where they have dedicated counselors and principal for their class. Helps with high school transition and building relationships #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1 Our school counselor, @JackieKohnert, is amazing. Academic and Career Planning is her newest focus and she's doing a fantastic job. She is an incredible partner with students, staff, and families. #prinleaderchat
A1: In addition to adding counseling staff, counselors are making very effective use of walking counseling sessions with students.
Looking forward to learning more ways to support our families from #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1. We have grown to focus on SEL topics as part of our daily work, increased access to community resources while strengthening connections within our school. #prinleaderchat
A1: In addition to adding counseling staff, counselors are making very effective use of walking counseling sessions with students.
Looking forward to learning more ways to support our families from #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A!: The Freshmen Experience is still going strong. #prinleaderchat
At NAHS, we transitioned to a comprehensive counselor model from a college counselor model to meet the demands of students and evenly distribute workload for counselors.
A1: We have run various programs for students. Most recently we did a small group empathy program with lessons and small group sessions. We also started a "steps to success" program where struggling students track their academic progress to see gains. #prinleaderchat
A1: We have really focused on allowing our school counselors to provide counseling to our students and eliminated "other jobs" from their assignment. #prinleaderchat
A1: Our counseling program has really transformed in the last few years to accommodate college & career readiness expectations. Our services have really expanded to make sure all of our students are connected & have the opportunity to explore their interests. #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1 - Cont. Some of the most important work counselors do is "unseen" by most as they work with individual students and families to develop courage-confidence and strategies to be successful. #prinleaderchat
Walking counseling sessions are counselors meeting students at their classroom and rather that a session in their offices, they walk together. The physical activity and the side-by-side configuration makes it easier from the children to open up. #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1 Our counselors support Ss with small- & whole-group social & emotional learning sessions, identification of scholarship opportunities for Ss, leads cultural heritage celebrations, coordinates No Place for Hate activities, & leads positive behavior celebrations #prinleaderchat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A1 We invest a lot of time in having personalized relationships with each of the students to tailor our counseling. Helps with SEL support.
#PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
Walking counseling sessions are counselors meeting students at their classroom and rather that a session in their offices, they walk together. The physical activity and the side-by-side configuration makes it easier from the children to open up. #PrinLeaderChat
A1: Appreciate our counselors expanding services even more in the area of SEL, including suicide prevention programs and anxiety. They spearheaded the showing of Angst! #prinleaderchat
A1 Our counselors support Ss with small- & whole-group social & emotional learning sessions, identification of scholarship opportunities for Ss, leads cultural heritage celebrations, coordinates No Place for Hate activities, & leads positive behavior celebrations #prinleaderchat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
#PrinLeaderChat A1: Facilitated college and career night for parents, facilitated Signs of Suicide assessment and curriculum, major emphasis on SEL, added clinical counselor with a grant from Concord Counseling, provided group services for students in need. Wanted to add staff.
Thank you @bobby__dodd. The practice of walking counseling sessions began with a school psychologist and was found to be a great tool K to 12. #PrinLeaderChat
A1. We’ve expanded our counseling department to include an Education Support Counselor and we also have an Inspire Coach. Both work with students in crisis as well as providing supports/strategies for staff. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: To make bridge connections of their work and new initiatives! Many times, there are implications to new initiatives that involve them - talk with them first! #prinleaderchat
A2: Utilize social media to grow such as @ASCAtweets and @cybraryman1 sites for more learning on counseling, especially in the mental health area. Also, value counselors and involve them in leadership roles in the building #PrinLeaderChat
A1: Not "last few years", but moving forward they are integrating College & Career Readiness curriculum into our soon to be required Financial Literacy class. A team consisting of teacher, counselors, and me are attending trainings together to create programming. #PrinLeaderChat
Q1: In what ways has your school counseling program grown over the last few years?
Please share examples of programs your school has started
#PrinLeaderChat
A2. We meet with counselors weekly for meeting to discuss as admin/counselors how can we support each other; most importantly is being empathetic to their role as they deal with much stress as they support entire school community. #prinleaderchat
A2: I believe the best way to support our counselors is to have face to face conversations with them to find out exactly what support they need from us to continue to do what is best for kids! #prinleaderchat
#PrinLeaderChat A2: Attend conferences with them, meet with them on a weekly or biweekly basis to identify needs and areas of support, shadow for a half day, offer professional leave, encourage them to take mental health days...
A2: I believe the best way to support our counselors is to have face to face conversations with them to find out exactly what support they need from us to continue to do what is best for kids! #prinleaderchat
A2: co-teach classroom lessons with them, develop SEL curriculum focusing on the needs of your school, and look for community partners to work with his/her program at the school. #PrinLeaderChat
Student leaders facilitate dialogue, small-group sessions, and leadership activities with their peers designed to increase engagement across grade levels. The focus is to build relationships and connectedness in the school to eliminate judgment of others #prinleaderchat
A2 We need to meet with our counselors regularly to talk about kids, to talk about issues that are becoming "themes", and to work with our staff to build stronger relationships based on what we know about our kids. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: Intentional Principal/Counselor meetings weekly to keep informed of goals of each, progress on goals, updates on students/programs. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: #prinleaderchat As my last building, this was one of my most challenging areas. Identifying specific needs and then providing adequate support took so much time and energy. Fell short often.
What role does the Education Support Counselor play in your building? What role does the Inspire Coach have? Both sound like needed positions! #prinleaderchat
A2: Leaders need to provide the tools and support for counselors to be successful. Attend training with them to gain understanding; offer real support for initiatives they want to attempt; and create appropriate programmatic structures to protect their time. #PrinLeaderChat
School admins meet with counselors every Monday morning at the start of the school day so we can apprise, inform, update and strategize.
#PrinLeaderChat
@hansappel094 Means a lot to me that you think walking counseling sessions are a good idea. You’re doing amazing things with your students! #PrinLeaderChat
In reply to
@hansappel094, @bobby__dodd, @hansappel094
A2) The best leaders I’ve worked with view us as a TEAM! It’s my job to step up and communicate how other school leaders can support me. It’s not about me or you. It’s about us!
#1 question: Are you growing leaders in your school?
#Prinleaderchat#AwardWinningCulture
A1: We have transitioned from a character-based and #PBIS program to be more trauma informed, focusing on mindfulness, self-care, and social emotional learning #SEL. Teaming with outside providers, Mindpeace, our All⭐️ School Counselor also teaches health lessons. #PrinLeaderChat
Sorry I’m late
A2 Realize that if we start with a focus on healthy and happy to build our excellence and success we start with our school counseling plan at the core not a supplement #prinleaderchat
Love this! We actually have Monday Dream Team meetings. Every Monday, counselors/admin meet to talk students, schedules, programming, we also do weekly book studies on topics like character, leadership, trauma, etc.
#AwardWinningCulture#Prinleaderchat
A2:It is important to meet with them on a regular basis, keeping them informed on current trends and district info. We meet daily either formally or informally about emails we may receive about students, family updates teacher/student issues. #prinleaderchat
ESC also works with students in Trauma, suicide ideation, and mental Heath. The Inspire Coach supports us with additional resources and PD #PrinLeaderChat
A3: @MHSComets has a @MasonHopeSquad chapter where students and staff support our students in a variety of ways, including mental health. Students take a class throughout the year to learn strategies on how to help our students and staff #PrinLeaderChat
A2: Listening is key. We have Coordinating Council each week where admin & counselors share ideas, updates, & take time to brainstorm & listen. Our counselors need encouraged to grow their ideas, supporting our students, & continue to facilitate connections! #PrinLeaderChat
A3. We have focused on student mental health by having SEL lessons weekly with students; we have also done much work on ensuring each student has trusted adult; for staff we have focused on connections/trust but have work to do as for as mental health. #prinleaderchat
A3: Proud of our district in increasing the level of support of mental health specialists for students and promoting educational nights, like the viewing of @AngstMovie#prinleaderchat
A3 This is still a work in progress for us. Attending trainings and having conversations about our next steps is taking place now. It's also vital to make sure that each student has a trusted adult they connect with every day. #PrinLeaderChat
A3: Our district has a monthly SEL theme based on the CASEL model. The theme is woven into all discussions and strategies for application and practice are discussed and reflected on. We also have an exSEL team that addresses how to improve in this area. #PrinLeaderChat
Love it Hans! We also have Principal Sound-Off (3x/year) with class representatives. They share concerns, ideas, and suggestions. Then Principal and Counselors provide feedback. #PrinLeaderChat
A3 We routinely receive training on grief support, emotional crisis, and have external district partners who provide additional professional learning opportunities for team members who have questions about individualized support needed for Ss. #PrinLeaderChat
A3. Cont - Proud of our district as we now have licensed social workers in all our schools that partner with counselors. Now we have access to families in new ways to provide support. #prinleaderchat
A3: We have a certified Mindfulness teacher for all our students. Teacher also beginning a “newsletter” for staff to provide tips & strategies to use for both themselves and their students. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: Communication...Have regularly scheduled meetings with counselors to discuss program implementation, vision and expectations. Don’t let it be one and fine. #PrinLeaderChat
A3) Youth Suicide Prevention Programs in our health classes, school-wide @careacter program, Cyberbullying/Internet Safety Lessons in Tech/Health classes, Community a Strong Events with mental health pieces.
#Prinleaderchat#AwardWinningCulture
A3: Second semester of this school year, all classroom teachers are teaching Second Step Curriculum two times per week! We are also fortunate to have an additional mental health worker in our building this year - in addition to our two counselors! #prinleaderchat
A3. Our District has a Mental Health Coordinator. In addition every school has an Education Support Counselor. We also have Inspire (mental health) Coaches. #PrinLeaderChat
Thank you for joining #PrinLeaderChat this evening. Remember to always check out the chat on Sundays at 9 PM (EST) for 30 minutes of professional growth
A3: Need to make everyone aware of signs, ways to provide support (even if it's just telling someone). Understand trauma-informed care and that trauma means something different to different people #prinleaderchat
A3: Over the past year we have worked harder at providing mental health opportunities. We are working on a program fo where students and staff can choose things they are interested in that promote wellness. (Yoga, Journalizing, art therapy, puzzles, etc) #prinleaderchat
A3 (add’l): We also made faculty & staff aware that the @calm app is free for all educators. | Thanks to @Glennr1809 who provided it to their entire school district. #PrinLeaderChat
In reply to
@bobby__dodd, @ASCAtweets, @calm, @Glennr1809
Agree, Jay. The presence of supportive relationships among our team members and Ss is essential in our proactive engagement of helping our Ss navigate difficulty @posickj#prinleaderchat
A3: I think that inviting our counselors into classrooms is a key to raise awareness and support our counseling initiatives. Our counselors are such great resources—allowing them to connect with more students is so important! #PrinLeaderChat
A3 Mentally healthy is something we PRACTICE&model daily- We have mindfulness platform, We utilize @NAMIDelaware (Ending silence #endstigma ) FYI-they are in every state, ongoing training, mental health therapist at school, transparency w/ students w/ input #prinleaderchat
A3: We have intentional staffing, programming and communication for starters. Ongoing SEL PD for staff, being transparent with all. Digital information and personal connections. #PrinLeaderChat
I’m reading through the #PrinLeaderChat and as a School Counselor myself, I love this idea and have used it many times but never had a name for it. I do now! Thanks!
