Manage

Belief Statements

Every student should have access to and opportunity for a high-quality education.

Every student should have access to a comprehensive school counseling program.

Every student should feel safe in their learning environment.

Every student should be equipped with the skills to manage their emotions and respond appropriately.

Every student should have the opportunity to explore personal and career interests.

Mission Statements

The mission of the school counseling program at Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy is to create an environment conducive to increasing intrinsic motivation for academic achievement, career awareness and readiness, and personal growth and development through community partnerships and resources in Roanoke City and surrounding areas, with the intention of preparing students to reintegrate to their school of origin.

The mission of Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy is to provide an integrated transitional program to meet the academic and social needs where students can gain skills necessary to become productive citizens.

The mission of Roanoke City schools is to graduate students prepared for life in a rapidly changing world.

The mission of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with their partners, is to develop policies and provide leadership that improve student achievement and prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education and the workplace, and to become engaged and enlightened citizens.

The mission of the Virginia Department of Education is to advance equitable and innovative learning .

Vision Statements

The vision of the school counseling program at Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy is to provide every student with the opportunity to grow into productive members of society utilizing resources from a diverse urban community in order to successfully transition back to their school of origin.

The vision of Roanoke City schools is to be a model for urban public education. While individual schools around the country have risen to this standard, no district has comprehensively performed at this level. We owe it to our children to set a very high bar. With persistence, dedication, creativity, and student focus, we will reach our vision.

The vision of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with their partners, is to create an excellent statewide system of public education that derives strength from our diversity and that ensures equity of opportunity for each student in a safe and healthy learning environment that prepares all students to be capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens in the global society.

The vision of the Virginia Department of Education is that Virginia will maximize the potential of all learners.

SMART Goals

Per the ASCA National Model, here is the part of the comprehensive school counseling program where goals are developed, usually pertaining to one of the areas of achievement, attendance, and behavior/discipline. We do not have specific data in any of these realms for Noel C. Taylor. In honoring the initiative to see students in attendance at Noel C. Taylor for no more than three months and in accordance with the missions and visions of all bodies involved, the following two SMART goals have been developed in specifically targeting 9th grade students in attendance at Noel C. Taylor:

1. During their first three months of attendance at Noel C. Taylor, every student will be exposed to at least one career exploration tool.

2. During their first three months of attendance at Noel C. Taylor, every student will participate in at least one lesson or group counseling session relating to healthy and appropriate behaviors in the collaborative learning environment*.

These goals are defined as SMART goals because they are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. While these goals specifically target students who are not likely to be in attendance at Noel C. Taylor longer than three months, the programmatic material developed around these goals and the adaptability of the material will benefit students who are in attendance for longer durations as well.

Other broad areas have been identified for future formulation into SMART goals for the school counseling program at Noel C. Taylor:

• Acquiring guest speakers related to different career paths

• Including ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success in students' transition-to-home-school plans (form for tracking found under 'Define' and ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success)

• Assessing students' perception of school climate as it relates to their home school in order to identify possible future initiatives (e.g. if students indicate that bullying is an issue at their home school, this data can be used to implement change and leads into a piece of the importance of the advisory council as discussed below)

*The "collaborative learning environment" will be further explored in the group counseling plans, taking into consideration the delineations of appropriate behaviors in a learning environment versus appropriate behaviors in the larger community for safety and well-being, and where these behaviors both intersect and diverge.

Advisory Council

Our advisory council will be comprised of several key stakeholders who hold different roles in the community or various schools involved. The purpose of forming an advisory council is to garner support for the comprehensive school counseling program, advise on its implementation, and review student outcome goals and results.

Suggested members:

• Administrator from Roanoke City Public Schools who serves as intermediary between Noel C. Taylor and other schools

• A school counselor from Patrick Henry High School

• A school counselor from William Fleming High School

• A school counselor from at least one Roanoke City middle school

• Nurse from Carilion who leads psychoeducational groups

• Principal of Noel C. Taylor

• A parent or guardian of a student in the accelerated GED program

• A teacher at Noel C. Taylor

These are just a few key players whose voices will be vital to the advisory council. This council can have a maximum of 20 members and typically members should not serve more than three years on the council. A few members should swap out every year so that the council does not turn over all at once. As other essential community resources are identified, whether it be a local substance use rehabilitation program or a DSS worker, these voices should also be considered for inclusion on the council. Another option to consider is School Resource Officers from any of the schools (listed on home page) that refer students to Noel C. Taylor, as well as Roanoke City elementary school counselors to promote vertical alignment of key stakeholders and initiatives across the board.