Why High School Counselors?
The term ‘guidance counselor’ ☹️ is considered obsolete because it doesn't fully capture the comprehensive role we professionals play in supporting students' academic, career, and personal development. The title ‘Professional School Counselors’ 😊 better reflects our expanded responsibilities and holistic approach to student well-being.
Each Professional School Counselor is required to have a minimum of a master’s degree and OSSE certification. However, each of us hold well above the DCPS minimum collegiate requirements and we constantly strive to stay current with mental health approaches and modalities, and educational policies and reform.
Young people today are experiencing a dynamic era, characterized by a diverse and mobile society, innovative technologies, and growing opportunities. To prepare them for future roles as parents, workers, leaders, and citizens, it's crucial to provide support, counsel, and opportunities during adolescence which is a period of significant growth and change. Adolescents encounter unique personal and developmental challenges that affect their academic success.
Our team of highly skilled and compassionate Professional School Counselors are ready to assist our students in navigating high school and life and high school.
Mission and Vision
Mission Statement: The mission of the DCPS School Counseling Program is to ensure all schools provide a comprehensive, inclusive, and culturally responsive counseling program that assesses the strengths and needs of all students, staff, and community.
Vision Statement: We strive for all DCPS students to be heard, loved, challenged, and prepared to grow and succeed. This fits hand in hand with the overall DCPS vision for students to positively influence society and to thrive.
Core Beliefs of School Counseling & Post Secondary Planning:
- Each student can succeed and should graduate prepared for postsecondary opportunities.
- All students should have access and opportunity to a high-quality education, a comprehensive school counseling program with robust secondary planning.
- Effective school counseling programs are a collaborative process involving school counselors, students, families, teachers, administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders.
- School counselors, college & career coordinators are leaders in the school, district, state and nation.
- School counseling and postsecondary planning programs promote and enhance academic, career and social-emotional outcomes.
The Role of a School Counselor in DCPS:
In DCPS, we view school counselors as the "heartbeat" of the school, as they work collaboratively with administrators, teachers, families, and community partners to support the holistic development of every student.
School counselors achieve this by delivering a school counseling program focused on academic, career, and social/emotional development for all students by providing:
Need Help?
Reach out to your Grade Level Counselor to be connected with various resources such as:
- Home & Hospital Instruction: The DCPS Home and Hospital Instruction Program (HHIP) provides interim instructional support to students who have a medically diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition that confines them to the home or hospital for two weeks or more.
- Homelessness: Free resources & support for students in temporary/transitional housing via the Families and Youth in Transition Program. Students who are homeless, runaways, migrants, or foster care status may also qualify for free lunch via the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARM) Program. Ask to speak to the Homeless Liaison.
- Pregnant & Parenting Teens: The New Heights Program is a school-based program that provides resources and services to help DCPS students improve attendance, increase graduation rates, prepare for college and careers, and prevent subsequent pregnancies. Open to female and male student parents.
Other Members of the Mental Health Team