President's Letter: Advocates Always

Advocacy is a big word that comes with responsibilities: for our students but also for our professional role. It starts in graduate school where I was taught that my role was to be an advocate, and I am reminded often by my professional associations, from ASCA to NYSSCA to my local affiliate.

But advocacy is not an easy task and each school year I start again down this path – to help move a student forward through academic decisions, social/emotional growth and planning for college and career. And I start again down this path to advocate for our profession through NYSSCA, helping all of us move forward through quality professional development, updated resources and strong unity on our role in schools.

As your president, I have the opportunity to hear from school counselors across New York. Many offer stories illustrating how their professional advocacy has proven successful by holding onto positions and even adding new ones. More and more school counselors see the value of using our professional title, leaving “guidance” behind. The focus in the last few years on revising our regulations provided opportunities to call attention to our role and our programs. Now that those regulatory changes are a reality, we can see that advocacy does make a difference.

I am heartbroken for the stories of school counselors who work in a school that they feel doesn’t know or appreciate their value. It is hard to be our own champions, but that is what we must do. That is what advocacy means, and why it is sometimes hard.

For our students, we understand that fair isn’t equal and that we must advocate for equity. We understand that those with the smallest voices need our voices the most. We know our students count on us to advocate for their needs, whatever those might be. And we readily take on this role as the heart of our job: looking out for our students.

We must remember to do the same for ourselves, especially when we are not sure anyone will listen, not sure anyone really cares, and not sure anything will change. That is when advocacy means the most. Look out for your students, but also look out for yourself and your role in your school. We are a strong unit in New York state and growing stronger. Just as we remind our students, when you need a little help, reach out. Let’s all help each other advocate for our professional identity. After all, it allows us to be better advocates for our students.

Contact Kristen M. Shearer, NYSSCA president, at president@nyssca.org.