The Lawrence County School system will join others around the nation Feb. 2 — 6 in observing National School Counseling Week. There are 12 counselors who serve in Lawrence County schools in a variety of capacities. The annual recognition period serves to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within our school systems and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for careers. National School Counseling Week is always observed the first full week of February.
In a proclamation, Mrs. Rosa Allen-Cooper, Lawrence County School Counselors’ Coordinator, cited the system’s school counselors for being actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.
“All of Lawrence County’s counselors are certified, experienced educators with master's degrees in guidance and counseling,” Allen-Cooper said. “The combination of their training and experience makes them an essential part of the total educational program. Lawrence County Schools are grateful for the services our counselors provide.”
Superintendent Heath Grimes echoed Cooper’s praise for these employees.
“Given the poverty level of families in our system, the number of students with some degree of mental illness, and the fact our district does not have the resources of some neighboring systems, our counselors take on more work than most,” Grimes said. “They help create well-rounded students and provide them an opportunity to achieve more and have a better quality of life. We appreciate the work they do every day in our schools to help our students individually and collectively.”
The executive director of the American School Counselors Association, Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed.D., said counselors work to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career awareness in post-secondary options and personal/social skills.
“Comprehensive school counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success,” Wong said.
More than 32,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week's festivities. Many school counselors will be hosting special events and activities to call attention to the myriad benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program.
Parents or community members with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their local schools. More general information can also be found on ASCA's website,
www.schoolcounselor.org.
The American School Counselor Association is a worldwide nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Va. Founded in 1952, ASCA supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development so they not only achieve success in school but are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. The association, which is the school counseling division of the American Counseling Association, provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to more professional school counselors around the globe
