Reflection on the ASCA National Model: The Assess Section
As an elementary school counselor, my development within the "Assess" section of the ASCA National Model has been a dynamic and ongoing process. Over time, I have strengthened my ability to reflect on feedback, use self-assessment tools, and continuously evaluate my school counseling program to ensure it meets the needs of all students. This journey has been guided by both the feedback from my supervisors and my own self-reflection. By applying their insights and engaging in a thoughtful evaluation process, I have gained a deeper understanding of my strengths and areas for growth, leading to more effective and targeted support for the students I serve.
Reflecting on Feedback for Self-Improvement
One of the most valuable aspects of my professional growth has been learning to integrate supervisor feedback. Initially, I often needed clarification about how to assess my counseling practices best. There were times when I second-guessed my decisions and questioned whether I was genuinely meeting the needs of my students. However, through consistent feedback, I realized how crucial it is to reflect on both my strengths and areas for growth.
My supervisor provided constructive suggestions, such as improving the documentation of my counseling sessions and being more deliberate about collecting data to assess the effectiveness of my interventions. They also encouraged me to pursue professional development opportunities, including workshops on social-emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices. From the outset, I was eager to embrace all of the feedback, recognizing the opportunity to enhance my skills, even though I initially faced challenges finding the time and resources to implement these changes. As I reflected on their input and aligned it with my commitment to providing the best support for my students, I developed a clear plan for self-improvement.
I began setting specific goals for myself, such as using formative assessments at the beginning and end of counseling sessions to track students' progress, creating more structured lesson plans for SEL activities, and attending webinars to deepen my understanding of counseling strategies. By consistently reflecting on feedback and adjusting my practices, I have gained confidence in my ability to address the diverse needs of my students.
Using Self-Assessment Tools
To deepen my understanding of my strengths and areas for growth, I started using self-assessment tools such as the ASCA National Model’s competency rubrics and other reflective journaling methods. These tools have been invaluable in helping me pinpoint where I am excelling and where I need to focus my energy.
Through self-assessment, I identified that I was firm in building relationships with students and fostering a welcoming, supportive counseling environment. Students often felt comfortable sharing their feelings with me, and I could see their emotional and social growth over time. However, I recognized that I needed to enhance my data collection and outcome measurement skills. While I had a solid understanding of the importance of these elements in evaluating the effectiveness of my program, I needed to work on consistently and systematically implementing them with fidelity.
After assessing my areas for growth, I sought guidance from my supervisor and colleagues, learning to use tools like student surveys, progress monitoring checklists, and group counseling evaluations. I also started incorporating these assessment tools into my weekly planning and reflections. For example, I created pre- and post-surveys for my social-emotional learning lessons to measure student knowledge and behavior changes and attendance trackers to demonstrate students' improved attendance rates based on my implementation of goals and action plans. This self-assessment process has allowed me to take a more data-driven approach to my work and provide targeted student interventions.
Evaluating the Comprehensive School Counseling Program
My most significant growth area in the "Assess" section has been learning to systematically and continuously evaluate my school counseling program. At first, I focused primarily on the counseling sessions with individual students and small groups, ensuring that they felt supported and had a space to talk. However, over time, I realized that my role extends beyond direct counseling and ensures that the school counseling program effectively meets all students' needs.
I began to implement more formal assessments to evaluate the impact of my school counseling program. This included reviewing the outcomes of my SEL lessons, analyzing attendance records to identify patterns of students needing additional support, and using behavior data to assess the success of my interventions. For example, I worked closely with teachers and administrators to track student behavior referrals and identified patterns that pointed to underlying emotional and social needs. I also collaborated with parents, guardians, and the SRO to help students with chronic absenteeism. This data allowed me to adjust my interventions and implement targeted strategies such as peer mediation programs and classroom guidance lessons.
Additionally, I learned to evaluate my program through feedback from students, parents, school personnel, and community leaders. I regularly surveyed teachers to get their input on the effectiveness of my services and how well I was meeting the school’s overall goals for student well-being. Parents and guardians also provided valuable feedback during conferences and school events, offering insights into how I could better support their children’s social-emotional development.
By using these continuous evaluation methods, I have made informed decisions about improving my practice and advocating for changes in the school environment that would better support all students. For example, after analyzing data and reflecting on feedback, I realized there was a need for more proactive programming to prevent bullying. This led to the development of a new initiative incorporating conflict resolution and empathy-building activities.
Conclusion
In summary, my growth in the "Assess" section of the ASCA National Model has been shaped by the ongoing reflection, self-assessment, and systematic evaluation of my school counseling program. By taking the time to consider feedback from my supervisors, assess my strengths and weaknesses, and continuously evaluate the effectiveness of my services, I have become more confident and skilled in meeting the diverse needs of my students. This growth process will continue as I strive to provide the best possible support for all the children I serve in my school.
Artifacts for Assess:
KBreen-ASCA School Counselor Standards and Competency Checklist Reflection.docx