School counselors are highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their careers. An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form healthy goals, mindsets and behaviors. With the help of school counselors, students learn to develop effective collaboration and cooperation skills, practice perseverance, develop time management and study skills, and learn self-motivation and self-direction habits.

In addition, school counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling programs to the academic missions of their schools and districts.

School counselor duties include:

• Individual student academic planning and goal-setting
• School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
• Short-term counseling for students
• Referrals for long-term support
• Collaboration with families, teachers, administrators and community members for student success
• Advocacy for students at Individualized Education Plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
• Data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges
• Promoting equity and access, achievement and opportunities for all students