What is a school counselor?

A professional school counselor is different from a therapeutic counselor. I am a teacher who has had special training to help students find success in education.

Leander ISD's school counselors help children find success in school by promoting academic, career, personal, and social development. The comprehensive counseling program involves parents in decision making regarding their child's well being and education. Counselors in LISD may collaborate with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to identify barriers that may impede student achievement, knowing that every student is unique. They can help students attain positive attitudes towards themselves, their family and their community.

The counseling program includes:

Classroom Lessons: Lessons are taught to every classroom K-5th grades, about once per month. These lessons include conflict resolution, social skills, problem solving, goal setting, career exploration, classroom skills, self regulation, etc... Extra lessons may be taught to classes at teacher request.

Small Group Lessons: Support is provided to students through small group lessons at teacher and parent request. Some examples of small group needs are: coping with feelings, social skills, classroom skills, handling test anxiety, etc... Friendship groups meet during lunch to help students get to know other students.

Individual Support: Students are met with individually depending on their current situation and need. Students are assisted with social, emotional, and academic problems. The goal is to help students to be successful in the classroom. Interventions are brief solution-focused interventions in which students are encouraged to come up with their own methods for solving their problems. Ongoing therapy is not provided.

Parent & Teacher Collaboration: Teachers, staff, parents, administrators, and counselors collaborate to establish a positive, student-centered learning environment. We work together to create individual plans for students to manage their educational, personal, and social development.