WTF is the job of a high school counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 it's 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.

Brace yourself some of the PSL's are pretty useless too. I've heard stories of good ones but the majority......

[Anonymous]

In my experience as a teacher and parent, their job is to ensure graduation requirements are met and help with that. If there are serious issues then they refer to the school psychologist or social worker. Why are you including them on multiple emails? Is it about a failing class or summer school registration? These could be for the counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I googled it for our school and found 4 people, but none labeled as special ed principal, case manager, etc. Never met any of them and none were involved in the meeting. So I have no idea. We came from outside FCPS and we also didn't have any of those titles at the other school district, but the counselor was not heading the meetings at that district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher and parent, their job is to ensure graduation requirements are met and help with that. If there are serious issues then they refer to the school psychologist or social worker. Why are you including them on multiple emails? Is it about a failing class or summer school registration? These could be for the counselor.

Yes, that was the subjects of my emails - registration questions, Class question, behavioral issue (from a teacher) and failing.

[Anonymous]

I think that OP thinks of the counselor as a therapist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP thinks of the counselor as a therapist.

Yep. The kid is failing and causing behavior issues, and the parent doesn't know how to correct it. She is trying to blame the school for her failures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually the help you with college applications.

Hahahahahaha.

[Anonymous]

Make the Subject "Follow up: Response Requested IEP"
cc Principal

Sample text -
We have sent multiple requests for information and no one has responded. Given the lack of response, we are requesting a meeting as soon as possible to better understand the following:
X
Y
Z

Propose a date and time for next week that works for you.

[Anonymous]

You can fail classes even with an IEP. An IEP is intended to provide accommodations but doesn't guarantee a specific grade, especially if the work isn't done or isn't done to a minimum standard. Parents often fail to understand this.