Advisory Council Advocacy

The Magic of an Advisory Council

By Jillian Hove, ACSC
 
When I started at my current school, I was the only school counselor for more than 600 students, tasked with extra duties including supervising before school, after school and during both lunches. I was responsible for 504 coordination, most scheduling and was asked to be the highly capable (similar to gifted and talented) lead for our building. When I wasn’t completing my extra duties, I was engaging in responsive services. Needless to say, I had limited time to focus on proactive interventions. By November, I was exhausted, and the idea of building a comprehensive school counseling program seemed impossible.
 
I knew I needed to find a way to advocate for myself so my students could get the school counseling program they deserved. Although I was nervous, I decided to start a school counseling advisory council as an advocacy tool. I felt vulnerable doing so before I had created a comprehensive school counseling program, but I decided it was better to try something imperfectly than do nothing at all.
 
To prepare for that first meeting, I thought carefully about whom to recruit. I invited teachers from different departments, a union representative and our administrators. I then spent the next few months collecting data I could share – numbers of reports made to child protective services, suicide assessments conducted and students who requested meetings.
 
I began that first meeting by explaining a school counseling program. Many were shocked to learn that school counselors have their own set of standards. I emphasized that even though our school only had one school counselor, I was working to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program. I then shared the data with the advisory council. To my surprise, many of them were outraged, making comments such as, “We need more school counselors” and “How can we get some things off your plate?”
 
After the meeting, many advisory council members advocated to other school staff about what school counselors do. My principal immediately removed my supervision duties and I was able to hand over some scheduling to our registrar. Although things are by no means perfect almost eight years later, I am proud to say we now have a comprehensive school counseling program that has achieved RAMP®. We also now have three school counselors with a 225:1 student-to-school-counselor ratio.
 
Other school counselors often tell me they are waiting to add an advisory council until they have a comprehensive program in place. However, the advisory council could help get to the goal of a comprehensive program, as it did for me.  
 
Jillian Hove, ACSC, is a school counselor at Kilo Middle School, a RAMP® school in Auburn, Wash. She can be reached at jhove@fwps.org.
 

Bridging the Gap

By Alma Barrios
 
In a high school with approximately 3,000 students and more than 200 staff, the school counselor role is often misunderstood. Despite our significant contributions, correcting misconceptions about the role remains a challenge.
 
To address this, we’ve focused on providing meaningful communication, demonstrating how our program makes a difference and connecting with a wide range of education partners. One of our most effective strategies has been establishing a student advisory council, in addition to our school counseling advisory council. The student group has been instrumental in bridging the gap between the school counseling department and the broader school community.
 
Meeting regularly with our nine school counselors, the student advisory council provides feedback and input on the school counseling program. The members advocate for students’ concerns and needs, ensuring the school counseling services are relevant and effective. By promoting the school counseling program through school announcements, events and presentations, the student advisory council helps raise awareness and appreciation for school counselors’ vital work.
 
The student perspective they bring to the table is particularly valuable for our program’s development – they share insights on school counseling program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. The council also offers ideas for new initiatives, workshops and resources to benefit the student population, helping ensure the school counseling activities and services are accessible and approachable for all.
 
The student advisory council members actively collaborate with school counselors, assisting in planning schoolwide events such as college and career fairs, mental health awareness campaigns and more. Their involvement helps promote and encourage student participation, making these events more successful and impactful.
 
Perhaps most significant, the student advisory council serves as a bridge between the student body, campus faculty and staff, the community and the school counselors. They help foster open communication and trust between students and the school counseling department. The council’s advocacy and involvement increases student comfort in accessing school counseling activities, services and resources.
 
Overall, the student advisory council plays a significant role in elevating the student voice and collaborating with the school counseling program to best meet student and school needs. Their efforts contribute to a more supportive and inclusive educational environment, ultimately enhancing student success and well-being.
 
Alma Barrios is coordinator of school counseling for Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas. She can be reached at adomin09@sisd.net.