Needs Assessments and the Role of the School Counselor

Caleb Candelaria

Grand Canyon University

Masters of Educational Counseling

1/25/20
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School counselors are advocates serving an educational foundation that focuses on the

development of modern-day youth. Various situations may arise the duration of a school counselors

career including students struggling to fit-in, providing valuable career options for students preparing to

graduate from high school, being available to assist and mentor students, and demonstrate the importance

of education. Collaboration is an essential method school counselors may use in-effort to navigate

towards success while experiencing the various situations mentioned above. Stakeholders, parents, and

other education personnel are branches a school counselor could collaborate with if necessary.

Adolescence is a period of chaos and a time when someone faces many problems, challenges, and

conflicts in the search for identity.(Elliott et al., 2017) They tend to spend more time with peer groups

rather than being at home, and if social interactions are positive it will undoubtedly be beneficial for

adolescent development (Tompsett et al., 2016). It is important for students to engage in conversation

amongst peers for creates comfortability and allows for discussion. According to a Demak Public High

School 1 study conducted by Normanita et al. (2018), students that were not able to interact socially well

with students struggled in the classroom. Normanita stated that some students showed a moody, aloof,

indifferent to the surrounding environment and did not pay attention to subjects with the teacher explains.

Group Counseling is an effective method school counselors can utilize to help students interact

amongst each other in a positive manner. The principle of group counseling is to encourage by utilizing

the potential that is owned and facilitate the growth and development to make positive changes in

individuals (Corey,2013; DeLucia-Waack et al., 2013; Shulman, 2010). A positive for a student to partake

in group counseling activities include engaging in conversation with peers, increasing self-esteem, and

build skills in overcoming obstacles. Thus, being able to provide as many opportunities as possible is

necessary for students struggling with peer interaction overcome their fears.

The New Skills for Youth Initiative is the national conversation and momentum to advance career

readiness for all learners continuing to grow. The initiative collaborates with stakeholders and advocates
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that focus on how utilizing career advising and development systems and programs as part of their career

readiness reforms. Counselors should acknowledge every student has a different path post high school

graduation for a percentage of students may choose to further their education at a college, university or

trade school whereas others may decide to join the workforce at an earlier age.

According to The State Career Technical Education (CTE), an article based on the New Skills for

Youth Initiative established by JPMorgan Chase, in grades 9-12, the most used strategies by school

counselors are providing students with information on multiple postsecondary career pathways (78

percent) and connecting students with early college opportunities (79 percent). As counselors It is

necessary we provide students with every opportunity to succeed. The CTE states assessments that focus

on students’ interests and skill sets are proven to be most beneficial when providing career options. In

addition, being able to utilize resources such as stakeholders are proven to increase a students ability to

make a well informed career decision.

Being available is an essential attribute school counselors must possess to become successful in

the field. According to the American Counseling Association, A study found that high school counselors

influenced their students’ future plans by encouraging them to have high expectations. A high proportion

of 10th and 12th grade students who were surveyed perceived that their counselor expected them to attend

college, regardless of their racial background( Mau, W.C, Hitchcock,R , & Calvert, C., 1998).

As a result, overtime, the students’ personal educational standards increased as a result of their

counselors original high expectations. ACA mentions that counseling decreases classroom disturbances as

counseling services support teachers in the classroom and enable teachers to provide quality instruction

designed to assist students’ in achieving high standards (Mullis, F & Otwell, P.). According to Mullis and

Otwell, students’, enrolled in schools that provided counseling, indicated that their classes were less likely

to be interrupted by other students, and that their peers behaved better in school. Thus, having school

counselors available helps students, teachers, and provides a sense of education professionalism.

As mentioned earlier, school counselors that establish high expectations for their students

generally generate positive feedback. According to the ASA, schools with more fully implemented model
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guidance programs had students’ who were more likely to report that they received higher grades, their

education was better preparing them for the future, and their school has a more positive climate such as

greater feeling of belonging and safety as school (Lapan, R.T., Gysbers, N.C., & Sun, Y. ). Due to

following mentioned above, it is fathomable to state that a school counselors presence helps students

realize the importance of education as well as provides students’ with the opportunities to become

successful.

Counselors are education advocates that help students achieve academic success. As mentioned

before, school counselors help students create long-term goals for example, career and college planning.

Collecting and utilizing data-based interventions through peer interaction helps counselors motivate,

inspire, and mentor students. Being able to communicate well with stakeholders such as principals,

parents, and other education staff is essential for the development of opportunities offered for students.

Providing research and statistical analysis of trends and current issues pertaining to student

success is an essential method school counselors utilize to present such topics in front of a school

principal. According to the ACA, school counseling programs have significant influence on discipline

problems. Baker and Gerler reported that students who participated in a school counseling program had

significantly less inappropriate behaviors and more positive attitudes toward school than those students

who did not participate in the program (Baker,S.B., & Gerler, E.R.). Baker and Gerlers’ claim support the

theory that school counselors have a significant effect on students’ developmental, behavioral, and social

interactions.

Lastly, school counselors are meant to inspire student growth and development. ACA claims

school counselors are very effective in assisting children in the area of career development (Lapan, R.T.,

Tucker, B., Kim, S., & Kosciulek, J.F.). Therefore, it’s essential education institutions’ provide

counseling or guidance opportunities that are available for students who need it.
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References

Baker, S.B., & Gerler, E.R. (n.d.). Counseling in Schools. The Handbook of Counseling, 289-318.

Doi: 10.4135/9781452229218.n18

Elliot, M.C., Shuey, E.A., Zaika, N., Mims, L., & Leventhal, T. (2017). Finding Home a

Qualitative Approach to Understanding Adolescent Mothers; Housing Instability. American Journal of

Community Psychology, 60(1-2), 55-65. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12112

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Lapan, R.T., Tucker, B., Kim, S.-K., & Kosciulek, J.F. (2003). Preparing Rural Adolescents for

Post-High School Transitions. Journal of Counseling & Development, 81(3), 329-342. Doi:

10.1002/j.1556-6678.2003.tb00260.x

Mullis, F., Otwell, P. (1997). Counselor Accountability: A Study of Counselor Effects on

Academic Achievement and Student Behaviors. Georgia School Counselors Association, 1(4), 4-12.

Tompsett, C. J., Veits, G. M., & Amrhein, K. E. (2016). Peer Delinquency and Where

Adolescents Spend Time with Peers: Mediation and Moderation of Home Neighborhood Effects on Self-

Reported Delinquency. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(2), 263-270.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21759

The State of Career Technical Education: Career Advising and Development.(2020, January 1).

Retrieved January 25, 2020 from https://www.counseling.org/#