The 5WH of School Counseling Advisory Councils Virginia School Counselor Association Annual Conference Hampton, Virginia October 2015 Lauren Wynne, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT/S Assistant Professor Counselor Education Program Longwood University wynnels@longwood.edu
A Little Data Collection Your responses: Briefly describe your experience with school counseling advisory councils. What positive results did you have? Any negative? If no experience, what has kept you from working in this way?
SC Advisory Council Meetings: Another Type of Group Work All groups have a purpose and goals. Begin with the end in mind. Use creative, interactive activities to engage participation and foster collaboration. Group facilitation skills needed before, during, and after.
Why have a SC Advisory Council? Long-term goals: Public relations, aligning with the ASCA National Model, connecting SC program and school/division goals & outcomes Short-term goals: Focus on current needs or anticipated needs for next school year Meeting objectives: What do you want them to know, feel, or do as a result of participating?
What needs to be covered? 812 4 Year Plans Created 36 Child Abuse/Neglect Referrals Made 176 Child Study Team Meetings Led 124 Threat Assessments Completed During Fall Semester
The Love Language of Administrators
Who should be invited to participate? Counselor(s) Administrators Teachers Parents/caregivers Students Business partners Is the group representative? How many is too many? How long members will serve on your SC Advisory Council?
When should meetings be held? Before, during, after school? In conjunction with another meeting? How long should it last? How many meetings per year? What time of year works best?
Colleges Our Seniors Will Attend University of Tennessee University of Georgia Duke University Savannah State University Georgia Gwinnett College University of Kentucky Georgia State University Utah State University Kennesaw State University Tuskegee University Georgia Southern University Harvard University Maryville College Georgia Perimeter College Liberty University Emory University Southern Wesleyan University Oxford at Emory University Bard College Georgia Military College University of Missouri Valdosta State University Wingate University SCAD UNC Chapel Hill Berry College Georgia Tech Covenant College Dartmouth Gwinnett Tech Eckerd College Georgia College & State University Endicott College North Georgia College & State University University of Alabama Morehouse University Utah Valley University Armstrong Atlantic State University LaGrange College UC Los Angeles Brenau University Lipscomb University Rice University Southern Polytechnic University Culinary Institute of American Auburn University Montana State University Shorter University Stanford University Purdue University Massachusetts Institute of Technology U Cal Santa Cruz Coastal Carolina University New York University Southeastern University U of Hawaii Manoa Piedmont College St. John s University Northwestern University Brigham Young University Converse College Louisiana State University Vanderbilt University Lee University Clayton State University UC Berkeley Emerson College Macon State University Coker College Clark Atlanta University University of Michigan Northeastern University Stetson University Chattahoochee Technical College Oglethorpe University University of West Georgia Albany State University University of Southern California Santa Clara University Lasell College Newberry College Western Kentucky University Young Harris University Campbellsville University Georgia Southwestern State Wofford University University of South Alabama Agnes Scott College Illinois State University Baylor University US Naval Academy St. Louis University College of Southern Maryland
Where is the best place to hold a meeting? Does it facilitate interaction? Is there enough room? Is everyone on the same level? Will you be using technology? Does the arrangement support any activities you are leading?
How to reach your SC program s goals by collaborating with stakeholders Consider How do you want your program to be remembered? What is the best tone for serving your purpose and goals? How can an agenda and other PR tools help? How will different members receive information you share? How will you balance data talk with heart talk? What advocacy is best done in this format? How to embrace continuous improvement as a gradual process rather than a lightning strike? How to be simultaneously serious yet gregarious as well as planned yet flexible? How to end on a high note with a clear date in mind for the next meeting?
SC Advisory Council meetings are where we work the outer diamond of the ASCA National Model. Let s look at an agenda v. minutes What to do with feedback and recommendations? Questions & Discussion