This committee, consist of the school counselors, staff, parents, business partners and community representatives who all have a vested interest in ensuring that the school counseling program positively impacts students success. The members of the Counseling Advisory Committee serve from one to three years. This ensures that there are always experienced members serving. This committee provides input into the school counseling program, makes recommendations for improvements where necessary, and monitors the effectiveness of current initiatives. The committee works to align the goals of the Greenville County School District goals with the counseling goals of the school which are based upon the needs of our students. These needs are gathered in the form of data collected from a variety of sources including the students themselves.
In order to best meet the social and emotional needs of students, this committee is presented with a variety of school-wide data in order to make a determination of which areas may have the greatest impact on student social and emotional development. Areas that do not meet this criterion are referred to the School Improvement Council for further discussion.
The advisory committee is made up of a diverse group of parents who have children in a variety of different grade levels throughout the school. They provide a voice and input for support that parents and students may need to enhance their academic, social, emotional, and future success. Administrators also participate in this committee by providing vital data about the schools yearly student progress, as well as areas of improvement. Community leaders who represent local business and organizations are part of this committee as well. Their role is to provide input on what they see as community needs, as well as promote counseling and educational programs that will have a direct impact on past, present and future students at Hillcrest Middle. Teachers play an integral role. One teacher from each grade level serves on the committee. Their input is critical to shaping the counseling program from the ground up, as well as ensuring that the counseling programs meet the development needs of the students.
The responsibilities of this committee include:
Assessing the school counseling program effectiveness throughout the school year
Recommending priorities within the counseling plan based on the data presented
Providing positive public relations to the community regarding the counseling department
Collaborating efforts of the counseling program with those of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), School Improvement Council (SIC), school board and community
Communicating identified needs for staff development
Assisting staff in developing, administering and analyzing the needs of students, teachers and parents as they relate to the counseling program
Enlisting parents as volunteers, where appropriate, in the counseling program
Establishing, maintaining and updating the parent information resource center and parent resource library
Aiding in the planning and conducting school-wide counseling events
Supporting continuous improvements in counseling services