School Counseling

School counseling is developmental by design and includes sequential PK–12 activities organized and implemented by licensed/certified, professional school counselors with the support of teachers, administrators, social workers, other school personnel, parents, and business and community members.

In Lexington One, school counselors are employed at elementary, middle and high schools. Additionally, a school counselor is employed at each of the district’s special programs, Alternative Educational Services (AES), Lexington Technology Center (LTC), and The College Center (TCC). 

The district also employs a district director of school counseling and advisement and district lead school counselor that provide direction and guidance for the school counseling program.

Elementary school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. 

Elementary school counselors work as a team with school staff, parents/guardians and community members to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, elementary counselors can help children achieve academic success.

Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. 

Middle school counselors work as a team with school staff, parents/guardians and community members to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. 

Middle school counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals, and realize their full academic potential as they become productive, contributing members of the world community.

High school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. 

High school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. High school counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals, and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

A school counseling program is delivered within four program components with a goal being 80% direct student services:

• Core Curriculum: Planned instructional program that is comprehensive in scope, preventative in nature and developmental in design provided directly to students. These activities provide direct student instruction or cause or create education activities for students.
  Examples: Classroom curriculum instruction, instructional group activities, character education, career awareness and career fairs, Red Ribbon activities, club advisors, heritage events, assemblies, service learning projects, anti-bullying projects, skill and communication development sessions and business tours.

• Individual Planning: Ongoing systemic activities to help a student establish personal, academic, and career goals and plan for the future. These may consist of appraisals and are primarily one-on-one student advisement on careers, academics and behaviors.
  Examples: Student cumulative records’ reviews, individual graduation plans (IGPs for middle and high students), test interpretation, behavior plans, course planning, scholarship advisement, intervention meetings, transcript audits, interest assessments, and welcoming new students.

• Responsive Services: Consist of activities designed to meet students’ immediate needs and concerns through primarily individual, small group and crisis counseling. Referrals, consultation and collaboration are indirect services done on behalf of students and are included within the 80% time for direct student services.
  Examples: Individual counseling, small group counseling, crisis counseling, student mentoring, peer mediation, student celebrations, home visits, drop-out prevention, parent meetings, teacher consultations, counselor collaborations, military transitions and outside agency referrals.

• Systems Support: These are all indirect student activities that support student achievement and/or promote equity and access for all students. They include all non-counseling duties and school counseling program management.
  Examples: School duty, counselor professional development, counselor and staff meetings, school counseling advisory council meetings, internship supervision, committees, workshop presentations, calendaring, use of time assessments, clerical and administrative duties, testing assistance, student registrations, counseling program data development and collection, conferences and community outreach.