wanted: school counselor advocates & leaders new jersey school counselor association october 14,...
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Wanted: School Counselor Wanted: School Counselor Advocates & LeadersAdvocates & Leaders
Wanted: School Counselor Wanted: School Counselor Advocates & LeadersAdvocates & Leaders
New Jersey School Counselor New Jersey School Counselor AssociationAssociation
October 14, 2012October 14, 2012
Who’s Here?
• Elementary counselors • Middle/Jr High counselors• Secondary counselors• Multilevel counselors• Guidance Directors • Counselor Educators • Graduate students • Other
Checking In• Previous conference attendees?• Who had to pay out of pocket?• What are you here for?
– Professional development– Your school made you come– Nothing else to do
So Why Me? What Can I Offer You?
• School Counselor and K-12 Director of School Counseling
• 19 years in the profession• Leader – local, state, regional &
national• Advocate for students, school
counselors and our profession
What is advocacy?
Function: noun 1 : the profession or work of an advocate 2 : the action of advocating, pleading for, or supporting a cause or proposalMerriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Three Questions
1. How do you advocate? 2. What is a school counselor advocate? 3. What kind of advocacy does our profession need in 2012?
Local level advocacy
•Colleagues•Administrators•School boards•Parents•Community members•Strangers•Elected officials/policy makers
Advocating for our profession• Talking about what school counselors do• Demonstrating with data our impact on
student success and achievement• Sharing our program results with
stakeholders• Going to meetings• Writing letters to the editor• Submitting press releases with photo ops
Advocating for your school counseling program
• Who do you talk to about what your program is doing?
• What data do you have that impacts student success and achievement?
• Where do you share your program information, goals and successes?– Staff/school– School Board– Community newspaper, local cable station– Community groups – PTA, Rotary, Realtors
What is a Leader?
• Someone who – has a passion– has a vision– is willing to make a commitment of
time, talent & treasures– wants to make a difference
What a Leader Is Not?• Someone who
– has a personal agenda– is looking for glamour & fame or
concerned about self over others– is not able to work as a team player– is not invested in the organization– is not willing to be an active
volunteer– is not a visionary and forward thinker
Why be a School Counselor Leader?
• There are numerous opportunities at the local, state and national level
• Change is in the air – the time is NOW• It helps your students and families and
brings recognition to your school counseling program
• If not you, then who?• Why Not?
2012 Leadership Challenges
• Limited time• Lack of interest among members
– Too busy; too much work; not appealing• List of challenges is great• Lack of interest among potential
members• Limited resources to do the job well
Taking Your School Counseling Program from
Good to Great• Greatness is a matter of conscious choice• Greatness is not an end point; it’s dynamic• Core values are essential for enduring
greatness• It is much easier to become great than to
remain great• We must possess passion
Taking Your School Counseling Program from
Good to Great (continued)
• Performance must be assessed relative to our mission
• We must be accountable for progress in outputs, even if those defy measurement; we must provide evidence to track our progress
Level 5 Leaders• Ensure greater success in the next
generation• Need to produce sustainable results• Attribute success to factors other than
themselves• Display a workmanlike diligence –
more plow horse than show horse• Are ambitious, have the mission in
mind and will do whatever it takes• If people follow you because they have
no choice, then you are not leading
First Who…Then What• Getting the right people on the bus, then
figuring out where to drive it• Great vision without great people is irrelevant• We need people with passion and
commitment• When in doubt keep looking• When you know you need to make a change,
act• Put your best people on your biggest
opportunities, not your biggest problems• The right people are your most important
asset
Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and
Improve Results
• Choose Your Attitude– There is always a choice about the way you
do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself
• Play• Make Their Day• Be Present
Next Steps
• What can you contribute to taking school counseling in NJ from Good to Great?
• How does the profession move forward?
• When do we do this?• Who else needs to be on the bus?
Next Steps (cont’d)
• What questions do you have?• What challenges do you face as an
Mover & Shaker?• What resources do you need?• Create your own action plan
For more info…Bob BardwellSchool Counselor & Director of
School Counseling55 Margaret StreetMonson, MA [email protected]