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This is me! I currently teach special education to pre-k through second grade students with learning disabilities. I love that I get to rub shoulders with these precious babies as they are just starting their educational journey!

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Upon completion of a Master's degree in Educational Guidance and Counseling, I hope to attain a position as a middle school counselor. I believe the choices that middle school students make will effect them for the rest of their lives. I hope to come along side them during this time to offer guidance that will help set their path towards success.

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Student-to-counselor ratio report
An article linked on the ASCA website is eye opening in regards to the data it provides on the success rate of students who have access to a school counselor on a regular basis.  It attributes counselors with smaller caseloads as key players in secondary students pursuing higher education.  The article also shows, through the gathered data, that students in schools with lower student-to-counselor ratios have lower retainee populations.
Ethical tips for school counselors
A list of tips for school counselors to use as a guide is posted under the legal and ethical tab on the ASCA website. This is a great, quick reference to remind counselors of how to do what they do and stay within the guidelines of the laws that govern their profession. As a future counselor, I would put a reminder on my calendar to read through these quick tips on regular basis.

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National Education Association - www.nea.org

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National Education Association - www.nea.org

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Gun Violence Prevention
The NEA website makes a strong push for its members to get involved in the conversation of education and gun control. A recent article has a picture of students holding up signs protesting guns and calling for a ban on firearms. This might lead the reader to believe the NEA takes a stand against educators carrying concealed in public schools.  The article does not say either way, but merely encourages educators to get involved and use their voice in hopes of forcing the government to pass laws that would bring some much needed resolve.
Vouchers
A current issue affecting the future funding of public education is private school vouchers. It has become an issue of legal concern with the talk of a proposed plan from President Trump, that would compensate parents for private school tuition. The article suggests that by providing vouchers to parents who wish to send their children to private school, huge amounts of funding will be taken away from public education. Communities will suffer as a whole, as the school is given less money by the federal government for educational and operational needs. NEA makes an obvious stance on how they feel about this issue by calling for voters to invest in what they know works, public education.

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I find the topic of gun control and how it relates to public school quite interesting. Perhaps it is because I am a Texan, as well as a LTC holder.  I am extremely curious to watch how our state legislature responds this hot topic!

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School shootings and the legislative push to arm teachers by Allen Rostron
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.easydb.angelo.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=e2e86ff8-449d-442d-849a-dfd5cfc93a0f%40sessionmgr120

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Current Professional - Karmen Chandler, Elementary School Counselor

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Current Professional - Karmen Chandler, Elementary School Counselor

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Top 5 Things Learned in Regards to Legal and Ethical principles
1. Karmen subscribes to ASCS School Counselor Magazine and the Professional School Counseling Journal in order to keep herself current on events and new laws within her field. There is usually some sort of legal spot light that she makes sure to read each month, which helps her keep legal principles in the forefront of her mind.
2. Karmen attends a big counselors seminar each spring, as a continuing education for her profession.  This year, she says she will make sure to look for a class to attend on legal and ethical principles. She admits that she has not attended any legal training recently and will make an effort to do so now.
3. One set of laws she frequently monitors are the reporting laws for CPS. She explained that there are many instances each year of neglect, but the laws definition and her definition of neglect are not the same. She mentions that it is heart wrenching, and she wishes she could do more, but feels legally restricted in some cases.
4. Karmen shared with me that she carries malpractice insurance. My eyes widened as she told me this. As someone pursuing a degree that would legally allow me to 'counsel' students in an academic setting, I never considered the possibility of needing legal protection.  After further clarification, it was made clear that she refers to her UEA membership as malpractice insurance. She said she does utilize their knowledge of the law and calls or emails them as she has questions to make sure she is in compliance.
5. When asked specifically if there were any current legal issues that are impacting her work, Karmen had much to say. Her answer was not at all what I expected. She tells me of this big legally binding set of words in her employee contract called, 'other duties'. I sort of chuckled when she said this, but as she went on to explain herself I very much began to feel her frustration. Karmen arrives at work every morning at 6:00 so that she can do the counseling responsibilities of her job. Or at least all the parts that do not require students to be present. Once the school day begins, her hour by hour is filled up with 'other duties'. She feels these other duties take away from her staying true to position and calling as counselor.

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With the increased wave of school shootings in recent years, gun laws and their reform have become a hot topic in the media.  It makes sense that the intended targets would take the precautions necessary to defend themselves.  They are doing just this in Texas.

172 school districts in Texas allow select teachers and administrators, on each campus, to carry a concealed firearm (Alvarado, 2018). These teachers go through a training program and must complete a certain number of field training hours.  As of now, Texas allows each independent school district to decide on how their teachers will be trained (Alvarado, 2018).  However, South Dakota law makers turned the task of training teachers to carry a gun over to the local law enforcement (Rostron, 2014).

The NRA proposed a school security plan to the federal government that would involve all schools to have an armed officer patrolling every campus (Rostron, 2014); with the officer’s salary being paid by the federal government. School shootings across our nation have continued to increase, and it would seem that the government continues to deliberate.  There has been no yet action by the federal government.  Perhaps this is the reason why local communities and school districts are taking action.

It seems that everyone has their own opinion on how to prevent armed gunmen from entering our schools.  Regardless of ones position on gun reform, our students and teachers need to be safe if our country’s efforts to educate the masses is to continue.  The National Education Association website has a link for anyone interested to sign up for updates regarding this issue.  There is much debate over what is the correct course of action surrounding guns in public school.  Parents and educators alike, need to begin to make their voices heard if we are prevent tragedy for happening again.

References

Alvarado, B. (February, 2018). In Texas, 172 school districts allow teachers, staff to

carry guns in schools. Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved from

https://www.caller.com/story/news/education/2018/02/22/texas-172-school-districts-allow-teachers-staff-armed/364677002/

Rostron, A. (July, 2014). School shootings and the legislative push to arm teachers. University
of Toledo Law Review. 45, 439-455. Retrieved from
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.easydb.angelo.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=e2e86ff8-449d-442d-849adfd5cfc93a0f%40sessionmgr120

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In Texas, 172 school districts allow teachers, staff to carry guns in schools by Beatrice Alvarado of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times
https://www.caller.com/story/news/education/2018/02/22/texas-172-school-districts-allow-teachers-staff-armed/364677002/