Feb-Mar 2021 Advisor

COUNSELING

16 CEA ADVISOR FEBRUARY–MARCH 2021

SCHOOL COUNSELORS: CHAMPIONS FOR STUDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

D uring the COVID-19 pandemic, school counselors have been more essential than ever. Hiring more of them—something CEA has long pushed for—is part of President Biden’s broad education plan and something that newly appointed Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona indicated in his confirmation hearing he strongly supports, not only during the current health and economic crisis but also in the aftermath. CEA spoke with three Connecticut school counselors about the role they play in their school communities and how their work has changed because of the pandemic.

“Having school counselors in the building to help support students really increases their chances of success at all levels.” Kashema Jennings and her work with the school’s SRBI team. She has observed more parental referrals this year and a greater need for social and emotional supports than in the past, many of which are related to students experiencing pandemic-related anxiety. “I’m glad to Kashema Jennings | East Granby Though school counselors are still most commonly found at the secondary level, Connecticut elementary schools are increasingly hiring counselors to serve their students. Seymour Elementary in East Granby, which serves third through fifth grade, now has a dedicated school counselor in Kashema Jennings, who previously worked at the secondary level. Jennings says her days consist of back- to-back remote and in-person appointments with students and families, as well as referrals to outside agencies classroom life, students benefit greatly. Learning about social emotional well- being and the vocabulary around it, she explains, helps identify issues before they reach a crisis level. “For example, when it comes to identifying emotions, a student might say they feel ‘bad’ or ‘sad,’” Jennings says. “We want them to learn to identify more complex emotions like embarrassment, nervousness, or anxiety. Having that vocabulary makes it easier to identify problems. Often, low academic performance issues and behavioral issues have to do with students not getting adequate support. We want them to be great learners, but there can be many barriers for many students. Having school counselors in the building to help support students really increases their chances of success at all levels.” Through her coursework at UConn, Jennings was trained to lead classes on social emotional skills and is happy to share what she knows with colleagues. see that the state is making that a focus this year,” she says, noting that when school counselors and instructional staff work closely together to incorporate social emotional skills into daily

Allison Delaney | Montville Montville High School counselor Allison Delaney gets to know her students in eighth grade and follows them through all four years, until they walk across the graduation stage. “We’re with them for the whole journey, and that’s why I love my job,” she says. “I’ve seen so many students struggle, and now they are out in the world doing great things. It’s so

Aland Joseph | Stamford “I always tell people that counselors are like the hub of the school,” says Stamford school counselor Aland Joseph. “We coordinate with everyone

from teachers to nurses, custodial staff, administrators, therapists, and psychologists— pretty much everyone goes through us.”

rewarding witnessing that and helping them along in that way.” Delaney says it can be hard for eighth- graders to see the big picture when they start planning for high

Joseph works at

Westhill High School, the largest high school in Stamford. He has a caseload of approximately 230 students and says every counselor at the school has slightly different responsibilities, which can include SATs, English learners, student athletes, and students who are homeless. Joseph focuses on students who are at high risk of failing and connecting them to the resources they need. Adults who are not recent high school graduates may remember working with guidance counselors to discuss their college or career plans, but Joseph says that school counselors today focus on a great deal more than college and career. “We do a lot of social and emotional support in this day and age so that students can be successful inside and outside of school.” Providing teachers with the information they need about a student’s

school, but counselors can get to know them at a deep level and keep them motivated. “When I was Christmas shopping this year, I saw one of my students who’d had a hard time in high school,” she recalls. “Now, a short time later, that student manages a store I visited.” Though Delaney prepares students for college and career goals, she says counselors “do way more than guide. We help students through so much. We look at the whole person and work with school educators, Delaney says that this year has meant recreating how to do everything. “We’re trying to still do everything we normally do, but all in a new way. The biggest thing for us is to support students’ mental health, but also to spread positivity and make sure students have the information they need.” Delaney says counselors at her school have created a whole new website with virtual calming rooms, mental health supports, and other resources. “We’re finding different ways of connecting with students and families. This year is like nothing we’ve ever seen before. We see students who have chosen to be fully remote who maybe haven’t been successful in school before and they’re doing fantastic, and then we see the complete reverse of that. It’s such a learning curve for everyone, but everyone is working so hard to make it work—the students and the staff. The school counselors I work with are amazing. I’m so blessed to have an amazing team.” As for students and families who are facing challenges this year and are unsure how to get help, Delaney says, “School counselors are like the Ghost Busters. Call us—we usually have the answer.” psychologists and social workers to get them on the right path.” As has been the case for most

“We’re with them for the whole journey, and that’s why I love my job.” Allison Delaney

situation while also respecting the students’ right to confidentiality about their circumstances or mental health is a critical balancing act. Many students,

“We do a lot of social and emotional support in this day and age so that students can be successful inside and outside of school.” Aland Joseph

he says, are coping with heavier-than- normal burdens this year. Some have lost family members to COVID; many have parents who have lost their jobs. The confidential nature of school counselors’ work is part of the reason, Joseph says, the public often doesn’t have a full picture of the scope of the job. “I have an intern this year, and she was shocked at the number of things, both good and bad, that happen throughout the day. She didn’t know how involved the job was.”

Helping Those Who Help Others CEA is here to help you manage your own stress and anxiety during the pandemic with a free, confidential service that connects you to professionals trained in delivering telehealth support. Don’t go it alone.

Call the Community Health Resources Hero Hotline at 888-217-HERO or visit cea.org/teacher- discounts/chr-hero-hotline . This service is free to all CEA members and their families.