President’s Letter: Leadership Spelled Out

Leadership is a great journey intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually. It is both formational and transformational. My personal experience of leadership started in high school as a class president, as a college student leader of a personal and spiritual growth organization, as a high school faculty club president, as an alumni officer of volunteer organization in a university and now as GASC president. I came to realize that my initial awareness of leadership led me to understanding myself and service for others. I believe that I have grown from being a very shy person to someone who advocates for students and fellow school counselors. I trust that growth and change continue since mistakes and failures are inevitable. The most important learning as a leader in these past years is the realization that one’s (heart, mind and soul) commitment to serving others generously will reap countless blessings despite barriers and struggles.

Please allow me to share LEADERSHIP in the context of school counseling:

L - Lead by example; make footsteps worth following; be friendly and kind to people. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” (John Maxwell). As school counselor leaders in the educational system, we are encouraged to define, manage, deliver and assess a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model.

E - Empower, mentor and coach stakeholders and consider individual strengths and areas of growth of members. Don’t stress about being the best; just do your best.

A - Advocate to create socially just and equitable interventions for all students and the school counseling profession. Attitude of gratitude to bring about positive school climate and people who are “bucket-fillers” and critical thinkers.

D - Determination to set SMART goals from data-driven endeavors to see positive student outcomes in academic and social/emotional development and college/career readiness.

E - Enthusiasm ignites greatness in students and stakeholders. When we work to help students achieve in academic, social/emotional and college/career development, we feel fulfilled and satisfied in knowing that as school counselor, we made a difference in their lives.

R - Resourceful problem solvers. We collaborate with community partners to provide resources for student success. It also means GASC leadership networking with community partners and stakeholders.

S - Systemic collaboration involves aligning school counseling vision and mission with the school and district vision and mission. It calls for collaborative efforts to implement a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model.

H - Humility is facing the truth and knowing that we work not for our own benefit, but for the betterment of our students. Humility in building better humans starts with accepting a leadership mindset. When we care for the hearts and hurts of others, we are able to lead with a healing heart.

I - Idealized influence. A leader is challenged to follow the ASCA ethical standards, competencies, professionalism, and end policies. They provide followers with a vision/mission of the organization to move forward and grow GASC locally and ASCA globally.

P - Professional efficacy. Perseverance. Persist with your purpose even when there are problems. Breathe and be calm in the knowledge that we have a community of school counselors helping each other support all students.

Keep on keeping on, school counselors! Go on going on, GASC! Move on moving on, ASCA!
 
Contact Estela L. Calata, GASC president, at elcalata@yahoo.com.