WTF is the job of a high school counselor?

[Anonymous]

Maybe my child has just a terrible counselor, but what is their job besides picking classes?

My kid is struggling and counselor has been CC'ed on emails. I tried calling, emailing, the works and counselor hasn't responded. I finally got a response today and the counselor basically offered zero help.

So, can anyone educate me? What the heck does a counselor do?

[Anonymous]

Ours did literally nothing other than finalize course selection. Others seem much more helpful but I have had three kids in FCPS and struck out every time.

[Anonymous]

Courses. And acts like a friend dealing with small issues in school or socially. Don't expect more.

[Anonymous]

Usually the help you with college applications.

[Anonymous]

I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

[Anonymous]

The counselor my son had in 12th grade was entirely incompetent. He had to deal with a teacher who would not honor the requirements of his 504, and she provided no help at all. All she did was write the obligatory letter of recommendation and validate course selection. 2 years later, she's apparently still there, but now she has been diagnosed with cancer, everyone has stopped complaining about her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

You need to involve your case worker, special ed chair, special ed principal, and the procedural support liaison. With so little time I might do them all at the same time, in addition to the teacher in question. It sounds like the IEP either isn’t being followed or is insufficient to access the curriculum.

The counselor is not going to help with IEP accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

I’m still not sure what you mean by “trouble” (behavioral problem?/ failure to complete assignments?) or who got the original emails that the counselor was cc’d, so this might be too general to be useful . If the student has an IEP, I’ll assume that the emails were sent to someone on your kid’s IEP team. Usually, unless the counselor was pulled in by the IEP team, it would be up to the IEP team to address the concerns and determine whether or not the student’s IEP needed to be modified. It would make sense for the counselor to be aware of the concerns with the student — but your concerns would be forwarded to your kid’s case manager.

If the emails, voice mails and phone calls were sent directly to the counselor, it would have been a courtesy for the counselor to contact you to reroute you to the case manager. If the calls went through an office, it would be reasonable— and take some effort — for the counselor to get more information about the student, learn that they have an IEP, and pass the messages on to the student’s case manager. If the case manager was on the list of people who received your cc’d emails, it does make sense that the counselor wouldn’t reply — since they knew that the case manager /IEP team was already in the loop re: your concerns.

If the student is failing related to issues addressed in an IEP — and/or teachers aren’t implementing the IEP appropriately, it’s on the IEP team to address that — not (usually) the counselor. The counselor might get involved if the concern involves other students without IEPs (ongoing problematic behavior with peers, for example) but that would not be a simple or quick process for multiple reasons, including — possibly — the need for parental consent for all of the students involved.

tldr: The short version is that for students with IEPs, the case manager is usually the first point of contact for the kinds of concerns that you’ve raised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

I’m still not sure what you mean by “trouble” (behavioral problem?/ failure to complete assignments?) or who got the original emails that the counselor was cc’d, so this might be too general to be useful . If the student has an IEP, I’ll assume that the emails were sent to someone on your kid’s IEP team. Usually, unless the counselor was pulled in by the IEP team, it would be up to the IEP team to address the concerns and determine whether or not the student’s IEP needed to be modified. It would make sense for the counselor to be aware of the concerns with the student — but your concerns would be forwarded to your kid’s case manager.

If the emails, voice mails and phone calls were sent directly to the counselor, it would have been a courtesy for the counselor to contact you to reroute you to the case manager. If the calls went through an office, it would be reasonable— and take some effort — for the counselor to get more information about the student, learn that they have an IEP, and pass the messages on to the student’s case manager. If the case manager was on the list of people who received your cc’d emails, it does make sense that the counselor wouldn’t reply — since they knew that the case manager /IEP team was already in the loop re: your concerns.

If the student is failing related to issues addressed in an IEP — and/or teachers aren’t implementing the IEP appropriately, it’s on the IEP team to address that — not (usually) the counselor. The counselor might get involved if the concern involves other students without IEPs (ongoing problematic behavior with peers, for example) but that would not be a simple or quick process for multiple reasons, including — possibly — the need for parental consent for all of the students involved.

tldr: The short version is that for students with IEPs, the case manager is usually the first point of contact for the kinds of concerns that you’ve raised.

I've never met a case manager - the counselor handled everything related to the IEP at the beginning of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

You need to involve your case worker, special ed chair, special ed principal, and the procedural support liaison. With so little time I might do them all at the same time, in addition to the teacher in question. It sounds like the IEP either isn’t being followed or is insufficient to access the curriculum.

The counselor is not going to help with IEP accommodations.

Oh we don't have any of that at our school. That's weird. Every other FCPS high school has this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

You need to involve your case worker, special ed chair, special ed principal, and the procedural support liaison. With so little time I might do them all at the same time, in addition to the teacher in question. It sounds like the IEP either isn’t being followed or is insufficient to access the curriculum.

The counselor is not going to help with IEP accommodations.

Oh we don't have any of that at our school. That's weird. Every other FCPS high school has this?

You definitely do have them. PSLs are shared between schools but its easy to find their name by googling. Starting with the case manager and special ed chair is probably a good bet. The counselor isn't super involved in IEP cases typically.

[Anonymous]

They also have to meet with some students who are in graduation support to make sure they graduate on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

I’m still not sure what you mean by “trouble” (behavioral problem?/ failure to complete assignments?) or who got the original emails that the counselor was cc’d, so this might be too general to be useful . If the student has an IEP, I’ll assume that the emails were sent to someone on your kid’s IEP team. Usually, unless the counselor was pulled in by the IEP team, it would be up to the IEP team to address the concerns and determine whether or not the student’s IEP needed to be modified. It would make sense for the counselor to be aware of the concerns with the student — but your concerns would be forwarded to your kid’s case manager.

If the emails, voice mails and phone calls were sent directly to the counselor, it would have been a courtesy for the counselor to contact you to reroute you to the case manager. If the calls went through an office, it would be reasonable— and take some effort — for the counselor to get more information about the student, learn that they have an IEP, and pass the messages on to the student’s case manager. If the case manager was on the list of people who received your cc’d emails, it does make sense that the counselor wouldn’t reply — since they knew that the case manager /IEP team was already in the loop re: your concerns.

If the student is failing related to issues addressed in an IEP — and/or teachers aren’t implementing the IEP appropriately, it’s on the IEP team to address that — not (usually) the counselor. The counselor might get involved if the concern involves other students without IEPs (ongoing problematic behavior with peers, for example) but that would not be a simple or quick process for multiple reasons, including — possibly — the need for parental consent for all of the students involved.

tldr: The short version is that for students with IEPs, the case manager is usually the first point of contact for the kinds of concerns that you’ve raised.

I've never met a case manager - the counselor handled everything related to the IEP at the beginning of the year.

Are you sure that your child has an IEP — vs a 504 Plan or some other arrangement? Have you and your child attended a formal IEP Team meeting at their current school? You should be able to find out who the members of the school’s IEP team are— either by doing a search or by calling the school. The head of the IEP team should be able to tell you who the student’s assigned case manager is. Note that it’s possible that the case manager might not be full time staff at the school.
Special education services are federally mandated, so the descriptions of roles that people are providing here are pretty standard, although the titles of the people in those roles might vary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t speak to Fairfax County, but usually at this time of year, counselors will be focusing on seniors— ensuring that they have the paperwork they need for college applications, verifying that seniors are on track for fulfilling their graduation requirements, and finishing up things that need to be addressed while students are still a part of the school system.

At other times of the year, counselors may serve as a liaison to other school staff — so, referring students to the child study team for assessment and interventions, for example, or working with the school social worker and teachers to address an ongoing student concern, or connecting a student with resource providers. They may meet with students to verify that they’re on track to meet grade level requirements prior to graduation. They may also work individually and in groups with students to resolve school related issues. They may have responsibility for hundreds of students, so even brief meetings with students and reviewing transcripts can be time consuming tasks.

You say that your child is struggling, and the counselor has been cc’d on emails — although you don’t mention who the original emails were sent to. You also don’t mention what type of help you would like — during this last month or so of school. If it’s clear that the counselor was cc’d, it’s possible that the counselor expected the primary recipient of the emails to address your concerns.

Appreciate the level of detail you wrote! In the last 3 weeks my kid has gotten in trouble multiple times, counselor was cc'ed on emails. Kid is currently failing multiple classes related to a IEP-protected illness / time out of school. Teachers are putting immense pressure without any alternative solutions other than giving up lunch to do makeups.

Before this, I sent multiple unanswered emails, voicemail and phone calls. In other words, I've never been able to get a hold of this person. When they finally responded it was, basically, can't help.

You need to involve your case worker, special ed chair, special ed principal, and the procedural support liaison. With so little time I might do them all at the same time, in addition to the teacher in question. It sounds like the IEP either isn’t being followed or is insufficient to access the curriculum.

The counselor is not going to help with IEP accommodations.

Oh we don't have any of that at our school. That's weird. Every other FCPS high school has this?

Yes. You are either a troll or a very uninformed parent. Put a little more effort into your child's education and meet the team working to support them. If you don't do your part, then don't expect the school to work miracles with your kid.