CNDV 5330 Developmental Guidance Reflection

1. How did your own knowledge of professional school counseling change through the course of this class?

 As I reflect on my knowledge of the professional school counseling, I learned that the school counselor must wear many hats from being an advocate for all students to being a leader throughout the school.  The counselor must be a change agent using data to help develop a comprehensive developmental guidance counseling program.   I learned that the school counselor must design, implement, and manage the school counseling program in conjunction with the vision and mission of the school.   I became familiar with the ASCA National Model.  The foundation includes beliefs, values, and philosophy that contribute to the lives of the students (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012, p. 77).   Next, the delivery system is template that defines what the counselors actually do that includes the school guidance curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services, and system support.    “The management system includes information school counselors need in order to effectively manage a comprehensive school counseling program.”(Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012, p. 81).  It includes management agreements, advisory council, use of data, action plans, use of time and calendars.   The accountability system use the data collected in the management system to evaluate the program through several processes such as results reports,  school counselor performance standards, and the program audit.  Next, School-Wide Cultural Competency demonstrated the strengths and weakness of my school in educating a diverse population of students.

     After completing this course, my knowledge and appreciation has increased from our school counselor and her role.  I understand more about her moral, ethical and legal responsibilities toward the students, teachers, and the community resources available to help all stakeholders improve.  This course help me realize the importance of evaluating the  strategies of leadership for enhancing the learning environment for the entire school community. It informed me why it is vital to serve on district, school and community advisory committees.  Finally, my attitude was changed with the knowledge I gained from this course by understanding that the school counselor is a change agent and is part of the accountability system that teacher are held responsible for in the 21^st century.

2. What are the challenges that you might face to implementing your CDGP?

I feel the challenges that I might face in implementing my CDGP is funding and time to implement the program throughout the school.  With some teacher departmentalize, teachers will deny me time in their classrooms for implementing the program during reading, social studies or science because they feel that I am interfering with them preparing their student for STAAR.   Another challenge will be getting people to serve on the advisory team because we volunteer to provide additional tutorials in the morning and after school.