Section III: Foundational Components

Definition:

Professional School Counselors are available at all Fort Bend ISD campuses to provide a Comprehensive Developmental Guidance Program and services for all students in the areas of:

• Guidance Curriculum - In an effort to help students develop competence in essential life skills

• Responsive Services - Provide intervention for immediate personal/social/emotional concerns

• Individual Planning - Provide guidance to help students plan, monitor, and manage their personal, educational and career goals, and facilitate transition activities for post-secondary education and/or training

• System Support - Support campus staff, parents, and community to promote the educational, career, personal, and social development of students, as well as the Developmental Guidance Program

In collaboration with teachers, administration, district stakeholders, and parents the Sartartia Middle School counselors follow the Texas Model for School Counseling Programs to deliver a comprehensive counseling program to all our students. As a result, our students are equipped with skills for life such as organization, time management, perseverance, self-advocacy, social skills and leadership. Not only does the counseling program serve our students, but our teachers and community as well by implementing a truly comprehensive program.

The counseling team implements the program by assigning each counselor with specific tasks and breaking down large projects into smaller more manageable parts. This allows us to each to focus on all necessary elements with expertise and collaborate to create a well-maintained program. Our progress is discussed each week at our weekly team meetings, bi-monthly with our administrative team partners, once monthly with our campus leaders and other stakeholders. This method creates an opportunity for check-ins, discussion, and feedback to be collected throughout the development and implementation of the comprehensive program.

Rationale:

Fort Bend ISD understands participation in a comprehensive counseling program positively impacts the overall development of its students by teaching and promoting academic, career, and social-emotional development and problem-solving that prepares them for life’s challenges. Our data-driven and comprehensive approach along with collaboration among all stakeholders, gives our students a firm foundation befitting our profile of a graduate.

The comprehensive counseling program at Sartartia Middle School is a vital part of campus and district goals with aim to create compassionate citizens and supporting student acquisition of skills such as executive functioning, working with diverse populations, resolving conflicts, and developing coping skills. The counseling program will enable students to develop their full potential by providing age appropriate and relevant learning opportunities to foster FBISD goals that students are equipped with skills for life, servant leaders, effective communicators, critical thinkers, compassionate citizens, collaborative team members, and life-long learners.

Assumptions:

For the Sartartia Middle School campus-based counseling program to be effectively implemented as a part of Fort Bend ISD’s Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program, the following conditions and resources must be considered:

• • • All students, staff, and parents have equal access to the school counseling program and resources.

    • The program is developmentally appropriate and meets the diverse needs of all students.

    • District and campus-based administrators understand, support, and prioritize the program.

    • Adequate funds are budgeted to support and enhance the program, purchase materials, fund parent outreach opportunities, as well as fund professional development opportunities for the counselors.

    • The counselor’s role as an integral part of the campus is clearly defined and mirrors the role as set forth by the district counseling program guidelines.

    • Counseling activities and events are planned and included in the campus yearly calendar.

    • Counselors use needs assessments, academic data, teacher, and parent input to guide campus-based guidance and small group lessons.

    • Counselors monitor and evaluate outcome data as well as feedback from all stakeholders and the counseling advisory committee to make improvements in the program.

The Sartartia Middle School counseling Program Goals are developed using district core beliefs and expectations, guidance from our Counseling Advisory Council, our Campus Improvement Plan (CIP) goals, data from the campus needs assessment, Jag Watch information, and individual and group guidance information, data discussed during Coffee with the Counselors, and monthly Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) meetings. Using data and information gathered from these areas allows us to target needs specific to our students, parents, and staff in order to provide the best counseling program possible.

The Sartartia Middle School counseling team is committed to the growth and improvement of our counseling program. We value feedback and input from our stakeholders as a way of evaluating our program as needed. Data is collected from our stakeholders, including teachers, students, and parents in a variety of ways throughout the school year so that we may use it to guide and drive our program. Some examples of such data includes, pre and post surveys of small group sessions and classroom guidance lessons, teacher feedback forms for students who have been receiving individual counseling services, verbal feedback provided by our Instructional Leadership Team and Counseling Advisory Council, and parent surveys provided during and after parent workshops. In addition, goals and program effectiveness are discussed and reexamined at our weekly counseling team meetings and with our supervisor/associate principal. This provides opportunity for frequent check-ins, feedback, and adjustment to goals as we progress. Through this method, we are also better able to evaluate trends and impact of our comprehensive program and make necessary changes in a timely manner. The integrity of the counseling program is important to our team. Program evaluation is a critical element of our planning throughout the school year.