President's Letter: Get Off the Isolated Island

These are words penned by a man who was talking about camaraderie and friendship, which each of us values in our personal life. I wonder though, how many of us feel like an island in our professional lives?

I recently got the chance to network with school counselors from across our nation at the ASCA national conference. While there, a common conversation I had with many as we discussed implementing our district- or state-chosen SEL program was that they felt apprehensive about leading the charge in implementation because they felt a collective disconnect from their colleagues. Some were the only school counselor K–6, others were one support staff member in a body of teachers who they believed didn’t know or care what the school counselor’s job entailed. Whatever the reason, the common thread was they felt like an island in sight of the mainland but with no bridge or ferry of connection. I’ve thought about this many times as I’ve worked getting ready for the 2021–2022 school year over the past few weeks. How can we bridge that gap?

First off, we have to make ourselves visible. Out of sight, out of mind...this can be an issue for many school counselors. If teachers and other school staff don’t see us enough, they may forget that our services exist. Some things we can do to be seen and heard are:

• Be present during arrival and dismissal.
• Send weekly emails to colleagues.
• Go to classrooms to pick kids up.
• Eat lunch in the cafeteria or lounge.
• Attend a meeting that isn’t your norm.

Second, we’ve got to find our people. Instead of trying to connect with everyone in the school, start by focusing on the people that directly support your work in the school. Maybe it’s that classroom teacher who has several students in her class struggling with home issues, the school nurse who refers frequent fliers to you, or the interventionist who feels the same way you do about their overall role. Whoever it is, start there. Pop into their classrooms, bring them a favorite drink, or ask about their day. Find the people who appreciate you and your work, and focus on building a relationship.

Third, we have to put in the effort. As with any personal friendship, building rapport with teachers and other school staff takes effort and initiative. Putting in the effort will give your school staff the chance to see just how amazing you and your program are.

As school counselors, if we want to get off that secluded island and bridge the gap, we have to take the initiative and hop on the ferry to the mainland. No man is meant to be an island, your role is important, your place at the table is important. Bring a chair and ask someone politely to scoot over.

Contact Allison Spraggins, ArSCA president, at allison.spraggins@lhwolves.net.