school counselors

[Anonymous]

What is the educational background and experience of average MCPs counselors?

[Anonymous]

I've seen a range of backgrounds. From the licensed clinician (LPC, social worker, psychologist) to one-year paid M.Ed. degree in education. From what I've seen the professional licensed people have much better judgment, ethics, and experience (and have licenses to uphold), but everyone is unique. I think MCPS would benefit from hiring many more school counselors.

[Anonymous]

immed prev poster here, want to add that many longtime experienced MCPS counselors are *amazing* and I hope they all get a huge raise as they deserve it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's also a nightmare to deal with counselors who suck at doing 504 plans

Because it’s not supposed to be part of their jobs. It’s not covered in school counselor master’s programs or internships. There is no funding or staffing for 504s it’s just thrown at counselors because they were too nice to say “no” years ago when MCPS threw it at them years ago and it’s blown way out of proportion since. It’s a real shame if there’s any sort of strain between you and your child’s school counselor because of a 504 issue. That’s yet another MCPS fault. It’s not like this in successful school districts. 504s are coordinated by staff members qualified in making decisions about accommodations and that is not what counselors should be used for.

Doing a job poorly isnt nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's also a nightmare to deal with counselors who suck at doing 504 plans

Because it’s not supposed to be part of their jobs. It’s not covered in school counselor master’s programs or internships. There is no funding or staffing for 504s it’s just thrown at counselors because they were too nice to say “no” years ago when MCPS threw it at them years ago and it’s blown way out of proportion since. It’s a real shame if there’s any sort of strain between you and your child’s school counselor because of a 504 issue. That’s yet another MCPS fault. It’s not like this in successful school districts. 504s are coordinated by staff members qualified in making decisions about accommodations and that is not what counselors should be used for.

Doing a job poorly isnt nice.

If a school counselor isn't in charge of 504, who should be?

[Anonymous]

Is it too much to ask for a new counselor to give a short introduction to the students? Maybe everybody knows everything about the counselors but many freshmen have not had time to meet with their counselor and to know them vice versa. Same is true of any new student to the school and also new counselors to the school. "Hi I'm Mrs.Larla. I'm coming from Gude Drive High school where I was a school counselor and I also blah blah blah for the last five years. I have a PhD in blah. I also worked in blahblah..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it too much to ask for a new counselor to give a short introduction to the students? Maybe everybody knows everything about the counselors but many freshmen have not had time to meet with their counselor and to know them vice versa. Same is true of any new student to the school and also new counselors to the school. "Hi I'm Mrs.Larla. I'm coming from Gude Drive High school where I was a school counselor and I also blah blah blah for the last five years. I have a PhD in blah. I also worked in blahblah..."

Mcps counselors are not 12 month employees. Many people don’t seem to understand that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it too much to ask for a new counselor to give a short introduction to the students? Maybe everybody knows everything about the counselors but many freshmen have not had time to meet with their counselor and to know them vice versa. Same is true of any new student to the school and also new counselors to the school. "Hi I'm Mrs.Larla. I'm coming from Gude Drive High school where I was a school counselor and I also blah blah blah for the last five years. I have a PhD in blah. I also worked in blahblah..."

Mcps counselors are not 12 month employees. Many people don’t seem to understand that.

Middle and high school counselors are allotted 21.5 summer work days.

[Anonymous]

At my high school the counselors son graduated as salutatorian, one position above me because he took that one AP shop class that was only offered in ninth grade.

He also told me CS would lead to a good profession, but they were ramping up on offshoring and what not.

No good use for counselors in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my high school the counselors son graduated as salutatorian, one position above me because he took that one AP shop class that was only offered in ninth grade.

He also told me CS would lead to a good profession, but they were ramping up on offshoring and what not.

No good use for counselors in my book.

They know what you know, parent. They knew there was off shoring just as you knew of off shoring. They can recommend a class for student to explore just as you can suggest your kid to take a class to explore an industry. Much will change between a student's freshman year of high school and sophomore year in ollege when student decides on a major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it too much to ask for a new counselor to give a short introduction to the students? Maybe everybody knows everything about the counselors but many freshmen have not had time to meet with their counselor and to know them vice versa. Same is true of any new student to the school and also new counselors to the school. "Hi I'm Mrs.Larla. I'm coming from Gude Drive High school where I was a school counselor and I also blah blah blah for the last five years. I have a PhD in blah. I also worked in blahblah..."

Mcps counselors are not 12 month employees. Many people don’t seem to understand that.

Middle and high school counselors are allotted 21.5 summer work days.

They don't tell students which days those are, do they, despite student asking!

[Anonymous]

As with anything, there is a huge range in the counselors in MCPS. My oldest has developed a health issue in high school, and I am truly impressed by how helpful their counselor has been - helped us get in touch with the nurse to develop a health plan, helped communicate what was going on with teachers, etc. The good ones are really good, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As with anything, there is a huge range in the counselors in MCPS. My oldest has developed a health issue in high school, and I am truly impressed by how helpful their counselor has been - helped us get in touch with the nurse to develop a health plan, helped communicate what was going on with teachers, etc. The good ones are really good, OP.

I guarantee chatgpt would have done the same, and more. In fact, the best possible savings in the budget would be getting rid of counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it too much to ask for a new counselor to give a short introduction to the students? Maybe everybody knows everything about the counselors but many freshmen have not had time to meet with their counselor and to know them vice versa. Same is true of any new student to the school and also new counselors to the school. "Hi I'm Mrs.Larla. I'm coming from Gude Drive High school where I was a school counselor and I also blah blah blah for the last five years. I have a PhD in blah. I also worked in blahblah..."

Mcps counselors are not 12 month employees. Many people don’t seem to understand that.

Middle and high school counselors are allotted 21.5 summer work days.

They don't tell students which days those are, do they, despite student asking!

They're not for students. Half are spoken for usually for meetings and trainings and the other half are for getting ready for the school year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As with anything, there is a huge range in the counselors in MCPS. My oldest has developed a health issue in high school, and I am truly impressed by how helpful their counselor has been - helped us get in touch with the nurse to develop a health plan, helped communicate what was going on with teachers, etc. The good ones are really good, OP.

I guarantee chatgpt would have done the same, and more. In fact, the best possible savings in the budget would be getting rid of counselors.