Ours is unprofessional and incompetent, but I'm like whatever because my standards are so low, having been blamed by my MCPS elementary school guidance counselor 20+ years ago for the sexual abuse I suffered. A comparatively lesser offense, but my MCPS HS guidance counselor told me not to bother applying to any of my choice colleges because I wouldn't get in. I applied and got into them all, incidentally.

Sorry--this topic just gets my blood up. Our child goes to a great MCPS school with fantastic teachers and leadership. But I guess my whole life I've been underwhelmed, to say the least, with what MCPS has to offer in the way of guidance counselors. I'm thankful we haven't needed to rely on the counselor at our daughter's school, but I worry for a couple families that have, since he's only complicated the issues they're dealing with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools are these great counselors from?

We have an amazing counselor at Takoma Park Elementary but sadly, she retiring. I hope we get someone just as good because she is an absolute gem!

Yes, she's a lovely woman. Very warm and gentle. I'm sad to hear that she's retiring. It's hard to find people like her anymore; she comes from a different era.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What have been your experiences with elementary school counselors at different MCPS schools? Trying to figure out what is expected and within the realm of what they can be doing to help my child.
Thanks!

At our school they have to speak spanish since there is always a line to speak to those counselors.

Make an appointment, they all rotate around so never know which one is at your school and try again next term.

Schools in America speak English. Why does the counselor need to speak Spanish?

Schools are buildings and do not have the power of speech.

Anonymous wrote:We LOVE our counselor at Ashburton. There are over 900 kids here and seems to know everyone one of them. She is a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded building.

She won Best of Bethesda a few years back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What have been your experiences with elementary school counselors at different MCPS schools? Trying to figure out what is expected and within the realm of what they can be doing to help my child.
Thanks!

At our school they have to speak spanish since there is always a line to speak to those counselors.

Make an appointment, they all rotate around so never know which one is at your school and try again next term.

Schools in America speak English. Why does the counselor need to speak Spanish?

Anonymous wrote:What have been your experiences with elementary school counselors at different MCPS schools? Trying to figure out what is expected and within the realm of what they can be doing to help my child.
Thanks!

Ours has been there for YEARS (like at least 12) and she needs to go. So blah - we need someone more friendly, interactive and fresh.

Anonymous wrote:What have been your experiences with elementary school counselors at different MCPS schools? Trying to figure out what is expected and within the realm of what they can be doing to help my child.
Thanks!

At our school they have to speak spanish since there is always a line to speak to those counselors.

Make an appointment, they all rotate around so never know which one is at your school and try again next term.

Anonymous wrote:Ours seems like a mix of good and not great. the kids like him and I really appreciate having a man in the position because there are a dearth of mail role models in elementary school...but several parents have told me he isn't on top of IEP requirements and routinely misses important requirements set in the IEP. I think he does well with his class discussions about bullying, inclusiveness and other social behaviors but his schedule is filled with that as well as emergency interventions as they come up and he doesn't get around to the routine IEP maintenance issues as well. So a mixed bag but since my child isn't SN our experience has been good.

I wonder if we're at the same school. I'm the PP who had a child with kind of mild anxiety and the counselor was really helpful, but I could see how he might be kind of overwhelmed when it comes to kids with more challenging needs. I doubt there are so many male elementary school counselors. One thing I'll say is that the counselors seem to have a TON of responsibility. IEPs, bullying, assemblies, and organizing coat drives and other resources for low-income students. I don't envy them.

Anonymous wrote:"A real gem" or " breath of fresh air" are such hackneyed cliches

Great feedback. However, PP used the term "an absolute gem." Maybe you can join our lunch bunch friendship group to practice appropriate social interactions.

I really like the counselor at DC's school and she has tried to be very helpful but she indicated that they would not be eligible for services because doing well academically, despite constant notes home from teacher with concerns.

"A real gem" or " breath of fresh air" are such hackneyed cliches

We LOVE our counselor at Ashburton. There are over 900 kids here and seems to know everyone one of them. She is a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded building.

Anonymous wrote:What schools are these great counselors from?

We have an amazing counselor at Takoma Park Elementary but sadly, she retiring. I hope we get someone just as good because she is an absolute gem!

Ours seems like a mix of good and not great. the kids like him and I really appreciate having a man in the position because there are a dearth of mail role models in elementary school...but several parents have told me he isn't on top of IEP requirements and routinely misses important requirements set in the IEP. I think he does well with his class discussions about bullying, inclusiveness and other social behaviors but his schedule is filled with that as well as emergency interventions as they come up and he doesn't get around to the routine IEP maintenance issues as well. So a mixed bag but since my child isn't SN our experience has been good.

What schools are these great counselors from?