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Upon completion of a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling, I hope to become employed at an elementary campus as a School Counselor. I would love to work at the elementary level for a few years and then be able to move up to the high school level.

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Exploration Option 1: Top 5 Things I Learned From a School Counselor

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Exploration Option 1: Top 5 Things I Learned From a School Counselor

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1. Legal issues right now that are impacting Texas are the special education compliance laws that we are working to fix. We are not following federal guidelines and so I expect to see some major changes there pretty soon.
2. When dealing with discipline, you have to be aware of the laws regarding special education students.504 students also have a lot of legal protections.
3. Go to training's, read TEPSA newsletters, subscribe to TEA "To the Administrator Addressed" emails. Make sure to get all updates from 504, Special Ed, etc.
4. Always be aware of the legal issues having to do with gender "choice".
5. You have to make sure that the correct documentation is in place and that all policies are being fairly implemented.
(C. Humble, personal communication, June 5, 2018)

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Exploration Option 2: National Education Assoication

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Exploration Option 2: National Education Assoication

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After reviewing the NEA website, I noticed on the front page Supreme Court: Janus v AFSCME. I learned that this case will not allow educators a "seat at the table to advocate for better schools and resources their students need" (NEA, 2018). It was interesting to learn about a court case that I have not heard about yet. It is important for educators to be in the know about laws and court cases that will implement them.
NEA. (2018). Supreme court case: Januse v AFSCME. Retrieved from http://neatoday.org/janus/?_ga=2.6805168.321051520.1528127817-1807174309.1528127817

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Exploration Option 2: American School Counselor Association

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Exploration Option 2: American School Counselor Association

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After reviewing the ASCA website, I noticed that reporting child abuse was a topic that was immediately mentioned on the legal and ethical page. It was eye-opening to learn about all the different state laws on reporting child abuse. Some states do not list school counselors specifically as having to report child abuse.
ASCA. (2018). Legal and ethical. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/legal-ethical

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Not-Found - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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The legal and ethical topic I choose to discuss was how counselors can advocate and be there for students who struggle with suicidal thoughts. This topic is important for all counselors to fully understand. "School counselors must always contact parents and refer them to appropriate resources that will allow them to seek help for their child. Confidentiality is trumped when weighed against the death of a child. Calling parents upholds school counselors’ most significant obligation to students: above all do no harm" (Stone & Zirkel, 2012).
Step 4
Internet Website:

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Potter, L. & Stone, D. (2003). Suicide prevention in schools: what can and should be done. American Journal of Health Education, 34(5), 5-35.

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Suicide is the second leading cause of death, behind car accidents, for adolescents. Thirty percent of youth have considered suicide (MediResource, 2017). Almost 6,000 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 died as a result of suicide in 2015. Suicide is self-injury with the intent of, and resulting in, death. A suicide attempt does not result in death, but the act of self-injury occurred with that intention. Suicidal idealization is the contemplation of suicide (NIMH, 2017).
In the article Suicide Prevention in Schools: What can and Should be Done, Potter and Stone list strategies for schools to employ when a student shows warning signs of suicide, such as screening, crisis centers, and suicide awareness activities (2003). Every school personnel should be aware of the warning signs of suicide.
In the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, the school is legally involved when a student commits suicide. As a future counselor I want to be able to say that I did everything I could for my students socially, emotionally, and academically.

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MediResource. (2017). Adolescent suicide. Retrieved from http://www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/adolescent-suicide

NIMH. (2017). Suicide. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml

Potter, L. & Stone, D. (2003). Suicide prevention in schools: what can and should be done. American Journal of Health Education, 34(5), 5-35.

Stone, C. & Zirkel, P. (2012). Student suicide: legal and ethical implications. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/magazine/blogs/may-june-2012/student-suicide-legal-and-ethical-implications