Educational Programs for Parents and Teachers
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In order to be effective leaders and change agents, school counselors must collaborate and connect with administrators, teachers, and parents and families. Connecting with administrators and teachers is often more convenient for school counselors because these individuals are easier to get in touch with on a regular basis simply due to being in the same place at the same time. However, building these same strong relationships with parents and families is vital in ensuring positive impacts on students, because parents and families spend the most time with their students and often have the greatest influence on them (Chen-Hayes, Ockerman, & Mason, 2014). School counselors should work to connect with parents and families through a variety of platforms, including letters (translated into all appropriate languages for diverse populations), the school website - specifically a school counseling page, social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and opportunities to visit the school (e.g. informational presentations and workshops). It is important that school counselors are aware of the various forms parental involvement can take, and they should be sure not to judge parents who are not frequently present at the school. I created the powerpoint presentation below for class discussion among the other students in my graduate cohort, but it could easily be shared with teachers and other school staff and used to spread this awareness of the various types of parental involvement. I also worked with two special education teachers to create a presentation to share with other teachers providing tips on working with students who may lack motivation to succeed.
References:
Chen-Hayes, S., Ockerman, M., & Mason, E.C.M. (2014). 101 solutions for school counselors and leaders in challenging times. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chen-Hayes, S., Ockerman, M., & Mason, E.C.M. (2014). 101 solutions for school counselors and leaders in challenging times. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.