Johnston County Public Schools is celebrating National School Counseling Week from Feb. 4-8 by highlighting the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping student achieve success and plan for a career.
National School Counseling Week is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do.
“The school counselors in JCPS work diligently each and every day to meet the needs of their students and school community,” said Dr. Amanda Allen, JCPS Director of Social and Emotional Learning.
JCPS school counselors will join more than 100,000 nationwide in participating in the week’s festivities. Many schools are hosting special events and activities to call attention to the countless benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program.
One of the week’s events include participating in the 2019 National School Counseling Week Photo Challenge. School counselors are encouraged to take a photo or video each day of the week with their students or colleagues and share them on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using #NSCW19.
“It makes me so happy to recognize school counselors for the first week of February, but it is even more important to me that we realize the professional support and services school counselors provide students, teachers, and families in the Johnston County community each and every day of the year,” said Dr. Allen.
Depending on the school and needs of the population, the duties of a school counselor could range from teaching preventative lessons, counseling students one-on-one, supporting students in preparing scholarship applications, facilitating small groups, or meeting with teachers and parents/guardians to best support student success, according to Dr. Allen.
“We are long past the days when “guidance” counselors only served the vocational needs of our students,” said Dr. Allen. “School Counselors of 2019 offer comprehensive counseling programs that strive to meet the academic, personal/social, emotional, and career needs of the entire student body.”
For more information about National School Counseling Week and the #NSCW19 Photo Challenge visit ASCA’s website at www.schoolcounselor.org.
