What Does a School Counselor Do?
A school counselor is a member of the education team, and is someone who gives valuable assistance to students, helping them with their academic goals, their social and personal development, and with their career development. ​

​Why Elementary School Counselors?

​The elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Elementary school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents and the community to create a safe and respectful learning environment. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face. Elementary school counselors hold a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

What Will Your Child Learn From the School Counselor?
​School counselors are people you can turn to when you need help. They are good listeners, and they want to help your child get the most out of school. School counselors help students handle all types of problems. For example, they can help if a kid is:
  • being bullied at school
  • struggling in math and needs extra help
  • new to the school and doesn't have friends yet
  • upset about a family problem, such as divorce or death of a loved one
  • having trouble concentrating on homework
  • having friendship troubles
  • feeling nervous about what to expect next year at middle school
If you're going through any type of problem, a great person to share your thoughts and feelings with is your school counselor.
How Do I Meet My School Counselor?It's a good idea to know the school counselor, even if you don't need any help right now.
Some school counselors visit the classroom to teach lessons about feelings, study skills, friendship skills, standing up for yourself, or dealing with bullying.
Students can also meet privately with their school counselor in the counselor’s office. Some counselors have special group meetings for kids who are all dealing with the same issue — such as divorce in their family, or a loved one who died.
If you want to talk privately with your counselor, ask your teacher, your parent, or someone who works in the school office.