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Guidance Office » Guidance Staff Roles

Guidance Staff Roles

Role of the College Advisor

The college advisor adheres to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Code of Ethics and Professional Practices which includes, but is not limited to:
  • Assisting students in selecting and registering for appropriate college admission tests, and in interpreting resulting test scores and their influence in the admission process.
  • Assisting students with developing a personal timeline or calendar for completing the tasks associated with the college admission process.
  • Working  with students and teachers in developing students’ essay-writing skills.
  • Encouraging students to visit college campuses, if possible, to gain first-hand information from admission and financial aid representatives, observe classes, and interact with faculty and students.
  • Assisting students in developing appropriate interviewing skills and in understanding the purpose of the college admission interview and their role in the process.
  • Encouraging student participation in on-campus precollege enrichment programs.
  • Developing productive relationships with colleges to assist them in understanding the nature of the school curriculum and the quality of their students’ preparation.

Role of the Guidance Counselor

School counselors work in collaboration with the entire school community and are committed to the education and whole development of all students. The school counselor is a key "go to" student and staff support services professional. Services provided by school counselors address the three domains of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) model:
  • Academic planning: School counselors work closely with students to plan their course of studies, to support their school performance, to review progress, to set academic goals, as well as to implement academic interventions.
  • Social-emotional development: School counselors focus on the whole development of students, facilitate social/emotional learning opportunities, connect students to activities and electives based on their interest, build home-school-community alliances, and provide on-going individualized attention to ensure student success.
  • Career and post-secondary development: School counselors help students understand their strengths and talents, and how these abilities can be utilized in various college majors and careers. School counselors aid students in the college admissions process, and all next steps to their secondary education.

Role of the Parent Coordinator

Parents should meet the parent coordinator early in the school year. The parent coordinator can help you with many questions and issues. Parent coordinators are an important part of your school community. They are responsible for:
  • creating a welcoming school environment for parents
  • working with the principal to address parent issues and concerns at the school
  • conducting outreach to engage parents in their children’s education
  • strengthening parent involvement in their children’s education
  • As a member of the school staff supervised by the school principal, the parent coordinator partners with and supports the work of their Parent Association/Parent Teacher Association, School Leadership Team, community groups, and parent advisory councils.

Role of the School Social Worker

The National Association of Social Workers - Standards for School Social Work Services offers the following guiding principals, which address multiple domains of practice:
  • Education/School Reform: School social work practice is consistent with the academic mission of schools by fostering educational environments that are safe; have supportive, fair, and responsive policies; and emphasize early intervention and positive behavioral interventions.
  • Social Justice: The school social worker collaborates with and facilitates collaboration among students, parents, community members, administration, teachers, and other school staff to identify ways to intervene early with students who struggle to benefit fully from the educational system.
  • Multi-tier Interventions: School social workers utilize a three tiered approach relating to prevention and intervention including Tier 1 (school-wide prevention programs), Tier 2 (evidence-informed, small group, and short-term interventions), and Tier 3 (evidence-informed, individual and long-term interventions).

Role of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist (SAPIS) Counselor

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist (SAPIS) Counselors facilitate a range of prevention and intervention services in grades K-12. The goals of the program are to:
  • Reduce the prevalence of substance abuse among youth, delay the initiation of substance abuse behavior among youth, decrease the negative health, social, and educational consequences associated with substance abuse.
  • Prevent the escalation of substance abuse behaviors to levels requiring treatment.