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Mission Of The Counseling Department

The mission of the CJ Hicks Elementary School counseling program is to provide all students access to equitable, student-centered, data-driven services centered around rigorous, individualized instruction. The program empowers students to reach their full potential by fostering academic, career, and social/emotional development growth. Collaborating with administrators, teachers, parents, and stakeholders, our program advocates for every student, empowering them to become resilient, responsible, lifelong learners who are college and career-ready and prepared to succeed in a multicultural, evolving global society.

Vision Of the Counseling Department

The vision of the CJ Hicks Elementary School counseling program is that all students reach their full potential—academically, socially, and in their college and career aspirations. Through participation in the CJ Hicks Elementary comprehensive school counseling program, all students experience a positive learning environment where they advocate for themselves and others, develop the skills to confidently navigate challenges, and build the academic, social, and emotional strengths needed for success in a global society. Our students are graduates who demonstrate strong character, thrive as lifelong learners, lead transformationally, and contribute productively as resilient citizens. Well-prepared to navigate an ever-evolving world, they positively impact and enrich their communities, adapt to new challenges flexibly, and show determination. They emerge as critical problem solvers, positive change agents, goal-oriented, culturally competent, socially responsible, and college and career-ready individuals, ready to succeed in a global economy and positively influence the world.

 

What Do School Counselors Do?

School counselors are certified/licensed educators who improve student success for ALL students by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that includes:

  • Individual student academic planning and goal setting
  • School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards.
  • Short-term counseling for students
  • Referrals for long-term support
  • Collaboration with families/teachers/ administrators/ community for student success 
  • Advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
  • Data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges
  • Acting as a systems change agent to improve equity and access, achievement, and opportunities for all students
  • Crisis Management
  • Small Group Counseling

 

A School Counselor does: Work with all students to encourage a safe school climate of trust and respect. Deliver classroom lessons that align to ASCA standards. Facilitate small groups. Meet individually with students for brief, solution-focused counseling. Help students make positive behavior choices. Collaborate with parents, guardians, teachers, support staff, and administration. Maintain confidentiality unless there is a need to know or a safety concern. Provide education and information about students’ social-emotional needs. A School Counselor does NOT: Work only with special ed., regular ed., or “problem” students. Assign grades after lessons or teach academic subjects. Facilitate therapy groups or provide long-term mental health counseling. Handle discipline or assign consequences. Collaborate with only one person. Share information to appease curiosity. Tell teachers how to teach or parents how to parent.