Please use this area to provide any further comments/suggestions you would like to share:
Trying to find work
I'm a recent graduate and have been looking for/applying for jobs for about a year now. I graduated last
June from CSUEB have not been able to get an interview
I graduated with my School Counseling degree and PPS credential last year and have been unable to
even secure an interview
I just wanted to share that it is very discouraging when you get called into an interview for
a counseling job to only find out that the district had laid off all its counselors previously;
obviously, A) it means you are competing with all the counselors who were laid off for that
one slot; B) it suggests that the position the district has is only a temporary one and gone
are the days of honoring employee loyalty or seniority, at best; and C) for me, it was the
writing on the wall that the counseling profession has a long way to go before it experiences
a recovery. If I had to do my degree over, I would have chose some extra units and gotten
a degree in school psychology. School psychologists are in much more demand and the pay
is better for them as well.
As a student who graduated from a school counseling program in 2010, it is really
frustrating not being able to put my degree and credentials to use. The budget crisis has not
only affected current school counselors, but stunted the growth of potential future
counselors. A growing number of my peers, who graduated alongside me, have given up on
the notion of ever becoming a school counselor because of the current climate. It is a sad
and disheartening fact.
I graduated in 2009 and have been unable to work in a school, but have worked as a career
counselor for an Education Fund that supports adult students. I am actively seeking
involvement in school communities, and think it would be great if the CASC could somehow
provide linkages for other graduates like me who seek to maintain current skills, but lack
the opportunities. I've actually tried and failed to find a school that will even take me as a
volunteer counselor (they only take volunteers for internship credit). Also I would like to be
able to attend the conference, but being unemployed; affording it is really difficult for me.
Perhaps opportunities could be provided for individuals to volunteer at conferences in
exchange for attendance?...
I appreciate anything and all CASC can do to support school counselors in maintaining their
jobs, for the benefit of the students, as well as the counselors. I have the experience
necessary and passion for helping students but cannot get a job to do it! I (we) invested
heavily in a Masters degree and PPSC credential not only to be in a 'secure' profession
(public education) but also to invest in helping students prepare for and achieve a better
future. I never dreamed I would lose the opportunity to do this after three short years. I
thank the CASC board members for whatever steps they take to support school counseling
in our schools.
The Importance of District School Counseling Department
I currently am not employed as a school counselor. In my experience; however, districts
which have a School Counseling Department ensure that counselors provide District
trainings and professional development to ensure that counselors are consistent with
policies and procedures. Districts that do not provide this for counselors are instead relying
on principals to guide counselors in their counseling duties which they know little about.
Counselors within districts to step up, organize and develop procedures and guidelines for
their districts.
Our school district does support school counselors; however each site administrator will
decide what extra admin duties their school counselors have. Which means depending on
the site you are assigned to you may be expected to do more for the admin then other
counselors at a different site. Additionally, if your administrator is not familiar with the ASCA
National Standards of Counseling they may not truly understand the structure in which a
school counselor should be providing support for students and parents.
Exhausted, Discontent, Sad, Why, Why, Why?
Exhausted and frustrated with this occupation. Feeling like all I do is react instead of doing
any proactive work. Not getting the important work that our children deserve.
Placerville shared one counselor between four other districts under state program to put
more counselors in schools. When they were able to choose what money was used for, the
districts chose to let go of counseling. Sharing the counselor position between so many
schools could not make too much of an impact for each school.
Is there going to be more funding in California for school counseling positions.
I did not get a RIF notice but I did get a job elimination notice and an involuntary transfer
back to the classroom after. I have been employed in the district for 30 years and have
been a counselor for the past 18 years. I feel that my district is trying very hard to get rid of
veteran counselors. This is purely a money issue and they feel we get paid too much and as
a group was a way to help their budget deficit. The board is afraid of being taken over by
the state and so they did away with counselors as a means of balancing the budget. I for
one could understand a decrease in the force but total elimination leads me to think the
district has plans to come up with a way to provide services to our students without taking
payroll from the general fund. They also wanted to get rid of veterans.
My department and I always talk about having some form of database that allows us to
quickly collect data. Are there any resources that CASC has access to that will help us
aggregate data? If so, my email is jthomas@hartdistrict.org.
I didn't realize until you asked the question that I don't know who I report to at the district
level. I went from 14 years as a middle school counselor, and accepted the job of
continuation high school counselor rather than go back into the classroom. In essence, I
have had to learn a new job in order to remain in counseling. How would CASC have
intervened on my behalf, if I had still been a member?
Counselors are a very important asset to the schools. They help with setting a 4yr. plan, set
future goals, schedule classes, monitor students that are at risk, provide interventions,
arrange parent meetings w/teachers, handle social/emotional situations, run support groups
and the list can go on and on....
Even though I think we were not pink-slipped this year, if they do summer layoffs, or the
budget goes further south, we could receive slips this year so that there are no counselors.
Central office and school board seem to think that they can hire admin to perform our
functions. Also, I think they want us to perform some functions that CSEA secretaries
perform, or admin should perform like master scheduling or STAR admin. But even our
principals are thinking they'd rather have another admin rather than a counselor. They
don't understand our expertise and that we are academic counselors. Community/parents
don't get that we aren't mental health counselors (state doesn't pay for that) and that we
are academic counselors. We need to educate people better, I guess. We will keep trying.
After reading some of the questions in the beginning of the survey, I have to see my glass
as half full.... things could be worse, but they sure were better a few years ago. Not to
mention the hardest thing we're dealing with at my high school is that our district opened
another high school even though we're in declining enrollment (very long story). Our school
size has gone from 3200 to 1800, our best teachers were recruited to the new high school,
and moral is at an all-time low. Some use the term "raped" to express their feelings. So if
the budget issues weren't bad enough we've been hit twice as hard. (I've been in education
as at teacher and then counselor for 24 years).
Our District is proud that they didn't RIF any teachers this year. However there are approx.
33 temporary contracts (teachers and counselors) that may not get renewed.
In my district, we have three assistant superintendents. Our superintendent is the third
highest paid in the state and he just got a $50k raise. No matter how much we advocate,
and no matter how much everyone loves us, the big guys are always going to look out for
themselves. If it comes between getting a $50,000 raise and saving the job of a counselor,
the raise will be saved because that is the culture of public education. We have to take the
emphasis off of jobs and onto what we're losing in terms of kids. It's not just a job, x
number of students are losing someone who used to check in with them weekly about their
homework. X number of kids who were abused will no longer have someone they trust to
report the abuse to. X number of kids will now have no one to help them brainstorm how to
improve their grades. X number of kids won't get to hear about career paths next year, or
college, or fill in the blank because a counselor is gone. There needs to be a school PSA
that is like "A Day Without a Mexican" only it's "A Day Without a School Counselor." In
Sacramento, we need to start asking politicians why Superintendents and central
administration make so much money? Why aren't they being cut? Why is it that our
budget and accounting office is hiring new people? Because they put the money where it
needs to go and they don't make cuts to their own department. Politicians need to look at
the cold, hard facts and ask why so many highly paid administrators are needed? This is
where a lot of our funding is going. I like admin, don't get me wrong, but in a budget crisis
year, no one should be getting a $50,000 raise and then telling people they are going to be
cut next year.
Counseling, but with an urban school district with a high attrition rate, personal/social and
academic come into play much more heavily. However, I am not to get too involved with
that, so it's hard to find my niche on where to help. But I will find my way (if my pink slip
gets rescinded).
I work at a small private school. There is only one, part time counselor. There is definite
need for a more structured counseling program, but in independent schools, there is usually
not a "need" for it (according to administration). Often, counseling, is left to the untrained
teacher or students try to help each other or turn to the Internet :(
I am now working on a B.A. in Nursing. Counselors are not valued which is evident in the
low pay, lack of professional support and instability of positions/funding. I regret becoming
counselor although I loved my job. I will be paying back student loans for a nonexistent
career and a useless education.
The budget crisis in our schools prevents counselors to obtain positions in schools. It is
very difficult and the students suffer.
You should have started this years ago. You are too little too late.
This is a very bleak time to be a counselor. Many are considering leaving public education including myself.
The way I see things going is that school counselors are acting more and more as
administrators and deans. We are dealing with programming schedules and dealing with
class changes and discipline issues more and more. We are dealing with fights and
substance abuse issues. We hardly ever have time to implement any form of prevention
programs. Also, we should not be left to give students punishment and deal with constant
disciplining the child. We are here to try to make a positive change and provide tools that
will help the child in future situations.
The counselor I am doing my fieldwork with received her pink slip. She was pink slipped last
year at another school in the same district. Continually letting people go is not a good
method of finding the best workers. I know several exceptional employees who have
decided to go into another field do to uncertain job security.
School counseling, as well as the public school system itself, is undergoing a radical
transformation in California. We have been complacent and passive, lacking vision and
leadership as a group, and so I think to a certain degree we deserve to be considered for
elimination. We have not made ourselves integral, kept to the cutting edge. I am frustrated
and disappointed by my status in public education and shocked that most of my colleagues
tolerate it. My efforts to take the lead and propose modifications have been met with
deafening silence, while the associations concentrate on legislative initiatives rather than
the practitioners.
It is a poor paradigm to have the Principal be the supervisor, advisor and task-director of
school counselors when they are not properly educated about what the public money is
supposed to accomplish by placing school counselors in schools. This paradigm needs to
shift to the County Office of Education and a designated person who oversees the
Counseling departments and counselors at all the public high schools in the county. They
need to assure national/state standards are being met and that all students within their
county are receiving the same type of and level of counseling services. This person needs to
show proper training and credentials, and understanding of national and state standards,
and be a positive leader in order to be in the position. Funding for school counselors needs
to come through the state to the County Offices of Education, who will then do the hiring,
placing and supervising of school counselors.
Do not lump us together with administrators or teachers when talking about layoffs. Most
teachers I knew thought we were administrators. After coming from the "business world”
and starting my counseling career in public schools, I was shocked at the lack of respect for
counselors across the board. I worked hard to create bridges between
counselors/faculty/administrators. The assumption in education is that being a counselor is
"easier" than being a teacher. I have had teachers tell me they are tired of being in the
classroom and want to earn their PPS so they can be a counselor where there is less stress
and they can manage their own time. I've always laughed prior to letting them know what
my "average" day is like. I always thought that teachers, counselors and administrators
should swap days every year to really see the others' job clearly. There is just such an
incredible "disconnect" about what people think we do, how we are trained etc. and what we
really do daily. Educators are so quick to blame each other for what "is going wrong with
education". I would like to see us all on the same team. At CCUSD, I lobbied fellow
counselors to take furlough days or cut salaries in order to maintain all counselors. Guess
how that went? The answer I got was, it doesn't affect me....so I'm not giving anything
back. How's that for being part of a team. That is a typical union answer. As long as it
doesn't affect them, they are not going to rock the boat. What a shame! Call me......while
I am frustrated (as you can tell) I am an eternal optimist and things will get better. At least
that is what I tell my students at LMU.
Elem. Counselors are like the redheaded step children in the districts. Middle & HS
counselors are almost always on payroll. I have been told by the Asst Superintendent that
Elem Counselors are a "Luxury". I work my ass off every day at school; just like everyone
else there and somehow we are an optional service. We wear MANY hats in school and
care-take many on a day to day basis. Go above and beyond what others won't do or simply
don't do. Such as bathroom duty for Down's syndrome kids on field trips, recess duty, run
meetings that the Principal, OT, Speech or Psych is unable to do, home visits. Therapy to
ALL the teachers and Principal's because we are good listeners and problem solvers.
Typically calm, even-keeled personalities that everyone is glad to see when they are
stressed out by kids and parents. We grab a kid out of class when they are throwing
furniture, become dead weight on the ground out of rage, crying, screaming, so the other
kids can learn. Run down the street when a kid tries to escape. We do emotional triage
others cannot do because they are teaching. We teach too! It's a more difficult thing to
quantify but trust me, it's measurable to those who appreciate it and know what we do. I
LOVE MY JOB. I get excited to do it anytime I am allowed to by the grace of God and the
State. It's all I ever want to do and to be pushed aside is hurtful but I think of who needs
emotional care and are not receiving it, it makes my heart hurt. I am part of a great
educational team. We all need the other to make successful kids and families. Thank you :)
I not only do Master Scheduling, but am also site administrator for STAR testing, effectively
pulling me away from any kind of counseling duties for the entire 4th quarter of the school
year. I'm wondering if the same is true for other counselors, as well as how other middle
schools handle the breakdown of these administrative duties.
I believe that the state of California is trying to privatize the school systems and in order to
do so, they continue to lay-off valuable employees within the public education field. This is
another way that will lead the community into believing that a private school setting over a
public school setting with smaller classrooms is the only way to have their son/daughter
educated. When in reality, the state needs to keep classroom size reduction, keep our
teachers, counselors and pay less towards our superintendents who make 3X the salary of
any administrator, let alone a teacher or counselor.
The reason I didn't attend the CASC conference this year, when I have always attended it
previously, is that there was no money for it in our district this year.
This is my first year as an ROP Counselor. I have been a high school guidance counselor for
the past six years. It's hard to answer some of your questions because an ROP Counselor is
considered a guest at the school site assigned to. We are to concentrate on Career.
Casa Ramona Academy has me as only part-time counselor in k-12 school. There has been
no prior counselor. I have no resources, structure or support to work with.
I think that it is a shame that Administrators do not understand the role of the school
counselor and feel that they should do things that are administrative or clerical such as the
master schedule or printing report cards. I love my job but due to personal experiences
and what I have seen happen to colleagues, I would hesitate in encouraging any student to
become a school counselor.
I am happy to share information but before doing so I would like to check the statistics. In
the LA Unified School District counselors are considered teachers who are out of the
classroom by virtue of the principal's approval. There was a ruling in the last UTLA contract
that those who have teaching credentials have the same right to keep their counseling jobs
as do those without teaching credentials (previously those with teaching credentials would
be first to lose their counseling positions. This policy is up for review in the new contract.
I think it's interesting that CASC awarded administrator of the year at the conference to my
director and a few months later our elementary counseling program was eliminated
It is unbelievable to think that Sacramento feels that 2 counselors can handle
counseling/discipline of over 1600 students on a daily basis.
My answers show that I am disappointed by California's budget crisis and the disastrous
effect it has had on education. The deterioration in personnel, services and opportunities for
all students is a silent tragedy with far reaching effects. In a global economy, we are falling
behind. (Exchange students consistently report that high school in the US is so much easier
than in their countries.) Facilities falling apart, non-existent landscaping, grade inflation,
testing, testing and more testing, losing art programs, lower expectations, no more
valedictorians, more and more students failing and needing credit recovery. Hearing on TV
and radio talk shows that we're overpaid, lazy, incompetent, have all these vacation days
and basically do-nothings who collect fat pensions are demoralizing. I long for the days
when schools were well-maintained, resources were available, needs could be met, people
weren't exhausted and standards of excellence were prevalent for both for faculty and
students. Arts and sciences were flourishing, career ed courses were available and it was a
vibrant, positive, exciting field in which to work. I wonder who these days would ever be
attracted to a career in education and it is rare that I speak to a student that wants to be a
teacher. The caliber of candidates applying for teaching and counseling positions is
sometimes not what one would expect or hope for. I believe things will improve, but it
looks like it might be a while.
Counseling has been my professional passion for many years and I feel defeated and beat
up anymore. Not only does the local level think very little of us; our state and
congressional level does too. It's all about testing, testing, testing. Any concern I have for
the whole child falls on deaf ears. It's very sad...
I am saddened by the fact that the students are in need of counselors in this hard times.
Students are coming to school hungry and scared because of what is going on in this world.
How are they able to focus on learning the basics in education when they do not even know
when and where their next meal will be? I am also sad because I have a career that I am
very passionate about and I am not able to work in that area. Because of my specific
education it is difficult to find a job in another industry because of my lack of experience.
We fear weakness in top union leadership in regard to counseling. We fear our district
leadership due to past issues. Counselors really need legal help and a list of attorneys to
help them with representation issues within the union environment. Unfortunately,
discrimination occurs unless the law forces people not to. Counselors are being
discriminated against, when others are not. At the heart of education is discrimination
against its own. How wrong is it to fire people with Masters Degrees for those without even
a college education to then tell student how to become educated? What for, all they will do
is fire you for someone without a degree. How can education survive this hypocrisy?
Suggestions
As I stated earlier, I think associations are missing a huge element of potential membership
by not targeting outreach/recruitment efforts at public community colleges. Our district is
the third smallest district in California and we have 15 counselors. Just think what kind of
membership you could get from the third highest district in California! Most if not all CCC
counselors are in STRS and are part of a CTA bargaining unit.
I think a key problem with school counselors is that they tend to isolate themselves. They
need to get out of their offices, be advisers to clubs (like teachers), and develop new
programs. Sometimes counselors can be resources to teachers like when the class is
reading a book that has psychological implications (depression, trauma, rape, etc.)
Counselors might attend other department meetings.... we need to be seen as "equal" in
importance to teachers.
With time I believe our profession will mature; however, there are still older counselors who
were never trained in the CACREP model and lack a proactive counseling approach. Any
outreach to this population would be beneficial though maybe not cost effective.
Counseling is way behind in our district. We were trained by Trish Hatch and the ASCA
model but they have done little to implement it. Our expectations are really high and our
workforce and morale is low.
PUSD needs major help in developing a stronger Counseling Department and properly
training their counselors to be more than adequate at serving their students.
It breaks my heart to see so many good counselors losing their jobs due to mis- or
uninformed school boards. I believe that more can & should be done to help out counselors
in crisis. Do school boards really think that students can get good grades, good attendance,
and perform well on tests WITHOUT school counselors? If so, they are in for a rude
awakening. I will do whatever it takes to help my fellow counselors stand up & speak out-including marching on the steps of the state capitol. Desperate times call for desperate
measures. It's not too late to dig our heels in & save our jobs and our schools!
The whole education system needs re-vamped! This isn't just one problem, everything is
struggling!
Again through legislation make sure that counselors are required. Make sure that counselors
are able to actually be counselors and not the arm of administration.
I really think that the association needs to work with legislators to make counselors a
mandated part of the school. We are seen as a luxury and are easily thrown out of the
equation when school budgets are reduced. It is sad that such an integral part of student
support services is cut because our services are not mandated by education code.
Something has to be done about the power of school boards. They can vote out the school
counseling program at the drop of a hat...too many back door deals are being done in
districts that don't have their counselors represented by a union. I think the teacher's union
has not helped the counselors out at all. Teachers know they are not going to be willing to
do what the counselor does on a 181 day work yr. and they will not want to work more
days; and they will want more bargaining which will cause more problems. But they seem
to be more than willing to sacrifice the counselors up for slaughter... Why not have
counselors work a 4 day work week or five days at 6 hours per day. Right now, what most
district will be desiring to do is have a part-time/contracted agency come in and hire people
at a much lower rate of pay i.e.; $18-20/hr do the same job as the salaried person but no
benefits/sick time. Who is that going to help? We know who...it is morally wrong.
There should be a state-forced counselor-to-student ration to ensure quality of service and
also allow for more counselor jobs.
As counselors, we tend not to talk about the great things we do, we just do them. With the
inception of the SPARC, we began looking at ourselves - strengths, weaknesses, who can
support us, setting goals - and presenting ourselves to our district, school, parents, and
community. As a group, we need to continue to be heard and be the ones to speak about
what we do and how we benefit students, their families, and our communities.
I have been informed that I pretty much will have my job back next year and that the
district is just waiting to manage the money. It really would be nice to have more
recognition. I am at fault for the lack of advocacy and board meeting representation. I
have been swamped with work and have not yet been able to analyze my data and create a
presentation.
Are CASC and/or ASCA working to make laws about mandatory student to counselor ratios?
In the Santa Clarita Valley, where I work, each district union comes up with the ratios, and
they seem to be going up every year. In my district, there is a Speech and Language
Pathologist at every school... I believe this is mandated by law, but I could be wrong. They
are service providers just like me, and it is frustrating to see counseling so undervalued.
It is important to keep the membership current to increase our membership numbers like
the psychologists Association.
My district started a push that all schools follow the ASCA model, I think it is a great thing,
but the roll-out was not done well, so many are not supportive.
I answered questions as best I could, but it was difficult to answer many because I am not
at a school site. I am an example of one of the Counselors who was cut, suddenly last year
from my AB 1802 assignment and since then has not been able to find a Counseling position
in a school. I think School Counselors need to maintain more accurate records of their
efforts with students, put together reports/charts that show their progress with students
and be able to demonstrate they are an essential part of the system to ensure student
success.
I will probably leave the profession after this year because I am too educated and qualified
to be sent back to a job I left five years ago (classroom teacher). I worked very hard to get
through graduate school to become a counselor and still owe a lot of debt on my student
loans, but this is a sinking ship and I can't afford to wait around to drown.
A lot of misinformation is out there about the role of a counselor and their training. Some
districts seem more advanced and progressive, while others are behind the times. I think
we need to educate the leadership so that trickles down to the sites.
CASC could also inform the public that teachers/counselors do not get paid for the days in
the summer that we don't work. Additionally, we contribute approximately 8% of our salary
to our retirement funds, and retirement money is not provided by the tax payers.
School Counselors play a vital role in the schools that cutting this service will have a
detrimental effect on schools across the nation.
What seems to save most of our counseling jobs each year is the parents and the
community. Without their support, our fight would be fruitless.
Many of the part time counselors in the district are temporary as part of the AB1802
Counseling budget, in some schools these monies have been reallocated temporarily as per
the release of funding by the state.
I have trained so many administrators on Master Schedule, yet not a hint of the counselor
does the master schedule always the administrator gets the credit.
I would have to say being a School Counselor in California has been a difficult experience. I
had been in Washington State and felt we had adequate staffing and support (my caseload
was 300 students in a middle school-what a dream!). Here I have been used as an
underpaid assistant principal, have been gotten rid of twice under the probationary contract,
have been Riffed three years in a row (making it five years of job uncertainty), and have
had incredibly large caseloads (currently 1050 in South Central LA). Even though I love
being a School Counselor I am leaving the profession and reclaiming my well-being! Life is
too short!
It seems that there are fewer and fewer counselor positions every year. Credentialed
counselors are being hired on a part time basis to do full time work for less pay and no
benefits. I understand that people have to work, but why should schools with no money
pay for a full time person when they can get the same thing for a lot less.
Grateful but worried
I have been impressed with the value that the LA County ROP, places on their counselors.
They have taken a lot of cuts, but have managed to keep all of their counselors up to this
point. I attribute this in large part to the director of ROP (Jimmy Benevides) being a former
counselor. Even this support is not going to save some of us from being laid off through
bumping within other County programs, however.
Our current superintendent retires this year after 18 years in that job. We are very worried
about the level of support we may or may not receive from our next superintendent. We
are a very low funded district and we are already cut to the bone.......
Potpourri
These questions were a little difficult to answer as we have our own counseling union
(APGA) in our district so we take care of our own issues with different administrative
departments depending on the issue.
We are a relatively small district in Stockton, CA. We have many needy families (45%
free/reduced lunch, unemployment rate at 17%) in addition to serving some of the most
affluent in our city. Our counselors offer crisis and personal/emotional counseling in
addition to academic/career counseling. We are in alpha teams of 4: 2 counselors linked
with an AP and secretary. We work very closely with our AP's and I think that's been an
advantage. It's so hard to explain our job to others, but on our campus, I think our work is
more recognized and seen as important because of the team concept. That being said, we
were cut severely spring of 2009. We fought hard and, through board presentations, parent
support and letters to the board, were able to bring our ratio back to within reason (350 1) halfway through the 2009-2010 school year. It definitely helps to have an educated,
caring school board, willing to listen.
Lausd began using the counseling position as a stepping stone to administration, now we
have counselors who just want to counsel.
Many of my answers may be vague or inconclusive- I am newly hired and have not been
informed of all policies, departments, etc.
School counselors are the glue that keeps the schools together and functioning. I believe
most don't understand all of the duties that a counselor holds. Superintendents do not even
understand all that goes on. I feel each superintendent should sit in a counselor's office for
one day to witness how widespread the duties are. There is no time for breaks or lunch.
Many take their work home to keep up. Counselors do not complain because this is what we
do. It's all for the students.
Thank you and Gratefulness
I’m glad you're reaching out to gather this information. I'm eager to learn of the findings.
I am proud that I have been a school counselor the past 25 years. It is unfortunate however
to be subjected to these challenging times. It is hard enough that the kids really need our
help and we are being stretched thin. I pray every day, to be the best that I can be.
Thanks for putting this information together, despite how depressing it seems!
After reading some of the questions in the beginning of the survey, I have to see my glass
as half full.... things could be worse, but they sure were better a few years ago.
I would love to receive information regarding the CASC and NACAC and ASCA. I would not
only like to join but would also like to attend workshops/conferences.
Thank you for everything you do for us!
I hope this survey opens doors of opportunity for more counselor advocacy and more
counselor involvement in the organization that will lead to more awareness of the value of
the counselor within the school setting.
CASC is extremely supportive! I could not have made it this far without them. It is hard to
advocate against hidden agendas.
Thank you for doing this!
I feel that our district values school counselors far more than other districts in the county.
Counselors here make significant effort to be visible throughout the school site, the
community and in district-wide committees to keep a higher profile and to show
appreciation for the resources they do dedicate to counseling. We have more of a teamoriented approach than an us vs. them mentality.
I am very happy with my district. We have not laid off any counselors. For the last 7 years I
have been a safety and violence prevention counselor. Every high school has this position in
our district. This position does not do any scheduling but instead focuses on community
outreach, personal social issues of students, violence prevention, individual and group
counseling, staff in-services, etc.
Thank you attempting to make progress for the field of school counseling in California. The
information you provided about the percentage of members to the state organization was
disappointing to see. I believe that if the number of members increases so will the voice of
the profession. Also, it would be nice to see printed material specifically related to school
counseling in California.
I joined ASCA during my Masters. Professors required it...or strongly encouraged it and I
really value their website and resources. This survey alone will help me be more aware of
CASC and NACAC. They are now bookmarked in Explorer
We are fortunate in our school to be seen as a significant force in the positive direction of
the school. We are considered grossly over-staffed, because there are 3 academic
counselors and me, the College Counselor, for a school of 1,000. We are considered,
however, part of the reason the school has been successful. I am a part of the leadership
team, and attend every staff meeting. Our Principal was chided by her supervisor last year
for keeping on a counselor rather than hiring another teacher. Fortunately, she stood her
ground. The counselor we almost lost is fabulous, and has made huge inroads into keeping
students in crisis mentally healthy. We are, however, very unusual in LAUSD.
We work very closely with the two Assistant Principals who create the master schedule.
They are very supportive and clearly value our work. Most of our teachers, although they
don't understand completely all we do are also supportive. We have our own union, which
is small, but it allows us to bargain separately, which has been extremely important for us
over the years.
Keep up the good work! I really appreciate your efforts.
It has taken a few years to make the connection with the teachers but now they really are
supportive and we help each other with students - mutual respect for each other and make
it a team effort.
Thank for allowing me to give my opinion on these issues.
Thank you for asking these questions. This is a very important survey and advocacy is
ultimately something that we need to be better about doing.
After 13 years of being a School Counselor, I was laid off because I was part-time.
Seniority was not a consideration because I was part-time. I find this "discriminatory". I am
60 yrs. old, and now have to find employment! Counselors in this district are not
represented, have no Counselors' Supervisor, and have no Union to join.
Thanks for the survey - good way to get stuff out. Would like to get more inform from
results of survey and speak to someone about assoc.