School Counselors Carrying the Torch
Written by: Lizette Baumann
In the fall of 2019, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of Counselors as well as the Butler University School Counseling professor team to review the efficiency and efficacy of the Comprehensive School Counseling process which resulted in Gold Star designations for Indiana Schools. We wanted to learn if going through the Comprehensive School Counseling process was making an impact in the long run for Indiana schools, Counselors, and, most importantly, students. Through much discussion and deliberation, it was decided what Counselors needed the most was more time to create true change in school counseling programs – many Counselors were overwhelmed with completing in one year all elements required by the previous program. School Counselors needed flexibility to have different timelines and also needed the freedom to incorporate elements of Comprehensive School Counseling without having to meet all requirements leading to an ASCA RAMP designation. Finally, we determined School Counselors needed more opportunities for professional development throughout the entire process of building a comprehensive school counseling program. And thus …the Indiana Comprehensive School Counseling Program: Carrying the Torch to Student Success was created.
There are three levels of the Comprehensive School Counseling Program: Carrying the Torch to Student Success. Participants can choose to work on the Bronze or Silver level, which can be fully completed in one school year. Participants can also choose to work on the Gold level, which will require two years to complete and is fully aligned with the ASCA National Model. The creation of the three levels was one of the main priorities of the Advisory Committee that created this program. We truly wanted School Counselors to have the opportunity to go at a slower pace and not feel overwhelmed or rushed to achieve all of the elements over a nine-month period. We focused on the process of creating the program and not just the final product.
“School counselors should be leaders and advocates in their schools. Planning and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program benefits students, staff, administrators, and parents. Carrying the Torch makes it happen!”
The first “Bronze Star” level focuses on a systemic review of your current counseling program, creating a calendar, keeping time logs, and creating one student outcome goal with an action plan.
The second “Silver Star” level allows School Counselors to expand on the Bronze level by creating a mission statement, utilizing data to create program priorities, develop an Advisory Council, create three student outcome goals, develop action plans, and create a departmental agreement with an Administrator.
The third “Gold Star” level incorporates all elements of Bronze Star and Silver Star and adds a few other elements. The Gold Star level focuses on creating small group lessons, closing the gap lessons and data collection, incorporating elements of self-care, and a program reevaluation.
In the fall of 2022, the first cohort of Carrying the Torch began its work. I spoke to several Counselors about their experience in the program. Stacy Boles, a 20+ year veteran School Counselor at Lapel Elementary School shared with me that in their pursuit of the Silver star this year the comprehensive school counseling program they developed was able to be incorporated into their school-wide MTSS program. She shared, “The Carrying the Torch Program includes a well-thought-out path to follow. After sifting through data, we worked collaboratively to create several smart goals with activities, strategies, and/or interventions for improving achievement, discipline and attendance. All plans were placed on a shared calendar for the next school year, so everyone stays on the same page. Some specific changes included a new MTSS Program, classroom guidance lessons that help students identify strategies for learning, small group work with students with 3 or more discipline referrals, and mentoring for students with chronic absenteeism.” She continued, “School counselors should be leaders and advocates in their schools. Planning and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program benefits students, staff, administrators, and parents. Carrying the Torch makes it happen!”
“School Counselors needed flexibility to have different timelines and also needed the freedom to incorporate elements of Comprehensive School Counseling…”
Nicholson Elementary School Counselor Mary Scheidler decided to pursue the Gold Star level due to her previous experience in receiving a Gold Star and Ramp status at a previous school corporation. Even though she had previously gone through the ASCA Ramp process, she still felt that pursuing the Gold Star level this year allowed her to refocus her program. She shared, “The biggest change I made this year has been to intentionally focus more on data. I, along with the advisory council, reviewed data from our student and staff needs assessment, ILearn and IRead scores, attendance, and discipline records. During council meetings, we allowed time for members to review and discuss gathered data so that we could pinpoint areas of concern. It has been so exciting to see the impact of incorporating a data-driven approach into our counseling program.” Through this process of focusing on making data-driven decisions, she related, “It is a great feeling knowing that you are making a difference and that you are using a proactive approach to school counseling rather than a reactive one.”
In speaking with various Counselors, they shared the biggest challenge in pursuing the program was making the time in their day to attend the monthly meetings. However, Counselors shared that having the support of the technical partner, Inspire Success, as well as the presenters who provided the professional development, was instrumental in allowing them to personally grow and learn about comprehensive school counseling while going through the program.
If you would like to learn more about pursuing any of the levels of Carrying the Torch, please visit: https://carryingthetorch.org/ to learn more and sign up.
Resources
Please login or register to claim PGPs.
Alternatively, you may use the PGP Request Form if you prefer to not register an account.
