Student Support Services

Guidance & Counseling

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Mission Statement

ISD 279 Counselors work collaboratively with other educators, families and communities to provide a comprehensive K-12 developmental counseling program for all students of ISD 279. Licensed School Counselors assist students to become productive members of society by promoting and enhancing student learning through the three domains of: academic, personal/ social and career development.

Program Philosophy

The impact of today’s rapidly changing society on students affects their personal, social, career, and educational development. A comprehensive guidance program is firmly grounded on principles of human growth and development. It is an equal partner with the instructional program and is necessary to help students meet these changes. Historically, guidance and counseling programs have been reactionary in approach, responding with crisis oriented services. The purpose of the ISD 279 Counseling Program is to be an integral part of the educational process with a content base of its own that reflects a balance of guidance instruction and counseling. Within the guidance curriculum, expected students outcomes are clearly identified with activities and processes given to assist all students in achieving these outcomes. The program is structured to parallel and address students’ needs at different developmental stages.

Program Domains

Within the guidance and counseling curriculum, expected student outcomes are clearly identified with activities and processes given to assist all students in achieving these outcomes. The program is structured to parallel and address students' needs at the various developmental stages.

The program consists of three developmental domains:

Social/Emotional Development

Outcomes focus on the areas of socialization, self-esteem, relationships, chemical health, and citizenship.

Educational Development

Outcomes focus on the areas of study skills, utilizing resources, academic strengths, and future educational planning.

Career Development

Outcomes focus on the areas of career awareness, interests and skills, utilizing resources, and connecting academic classes with future career decisions.

These outcomes are addressed through a variety of delivery methods including, but not limited to, classroom lessons, group counseling and individual counseling.

Program Components

The program consists of four components.

Guidance Curriculum

The guidance curriculum component systematically assists all students in order to develop knowledge and to learn skills necessary to enhance personal, social, career, and educational development.

Individual Student Planning Component

The individual planning component consists of activities that help students to plan, monitor, and manage their own learning and personal and career development.

Assisting students to successfully complete their elementary and secondary education is the priority of this component in the guidance program.

Responsive Services Component

The responsive services component provides assistance to some students in solving immediate problems that interfere with health, personal, social, career, and educational development.

System Support Component

The system support component consists of management activities that establish, maintain, and enhance the total guidance program. This includes working collaboratively with teachers, parents, and administrators.

Standards of Practice

ISD 279 K-12 school counseling professionals adhere standards of practice which support the following:

Individual right to respect and dignity as a unique human being.

Individual access to counseling services without prejudice as to a person, character, belief, or practice.

Individual right to choice and the responsibility for decisions reached.

Identification of student personal strengths.

Help students identify support services within their family and community.

Help students by providing continued academic support.

Help students transition from school to post-secondary or community.

The school counselor's role is to work directly with the students and to consult and collaborate with other staff members, parents, and community members. Parents are encouraged to contact school counselors with any questions or concerns.