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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR MUST READ LIST

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR MUST READ LIST

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School counselor and teacher collaboration is critical to student success. Since counselors and teachers have different experiences with students (and very different functions in their jobs), forming a team to help struggling children can make a huge difference. Here are my 3 book recommendations for school counselors and educators to read in order to foster a strong partnership that leads to student achievement:

1. The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

For those of you who aren't familiar with the 5 love languages, the basic premise is that we all express and feel love differently, and when others express their love in the way we best understand, we feel valued and appreciated. Discovering someone else's love language can lead to more effective communication and stronger expression of love. Typically, this concept is applied to adults in romantic relationships, but Chapman and Campbell use the idea of love languages as a way to motivate children to do their best. Those who work with children in a school setting can apply this concept by learning the love languages of students who exhibit problem behaviors and by showing love and appreciation through that language. As a result, students are more inclined to do what is asked of them because they feel the teacher or counselor truly cares.

2. Lost At School by Ross Greene

Ross Greene believes that all children want to do well, and they all would if they were capable. Lost At School is based on this assumption and focuses on targeting skills children lack that prevent them from doing what is appropriate. This book outlines a step-by-step process that teachers and counselors can follow when working with students and their parents to decrease negative behaviors. It shows why the traditional discipline system does not work for children who repeatedly find themselves in trouble while offering a guide for teaching the lagging skills these students are missing.

3. The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team With Positive Energy by Jon Gordon

A key element to collaboration between any co-workers is a positive work environment, and Gordon offers simple steps to achieve that type of atmosphere. The 10 "rules" in this book can help teachers and counselors communicate better with less frustrating encounters. This in turn, will give students the strongest team possible to assist them in navigating their school struggles.
Laura Smestad, M.A., LPC, NCC is an elementary and middle school counselor in New Orleans, LA. She is the creator of The School Counselor Life Blog, which is designed as a resource to other school counselors looking for individual and small group counseling ideas, classroom lessons, organization tips, and all things school counseling. Make sure you 'like' The School Counselor Life on Facebook for all of the latest updates.
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3 Must Read Books for School Counselors and Teachers for Better Collaboration

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School counselor and teacher collaboration is critical to student success. Since counselors and teachers have different experiences with students (and very different functions in their jobs), forming a team to help struggling children can make a huge difference.

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New York, New York About Blog We are a group of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers working together to bring resources to our colleagues. This was made for you. Confident Counselors is a monthly round up of resources, products, best practices, articles, comic relief, blog posts, give aways and ideas in action.
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Since May 2016
Also in Counseling Blogs
Website confidentcounselors.com
Facebook fans 4,099. Twitter followers 333.

Friendswood, TX About Blog I'm a school counselor, character coach, and author in Friendswood, Texas who hopes that you'll find something that will positively inspire, intrigue or influence you while you're here.
Frequency about 1 post per week.
Since Jun 2011
Website corneroncharacter.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 9,239.

About Blog Hi there! I am an elementary school counselor, mental health counselor, and curriculum writer hoping to reach every single student and spark social emotional growth!
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Since Sep 2015
Website counselorkeri.com
Facebook fans 2,210. Twitter followers 354.

Lansing, NY About Blog I am a certified school counselor at Lansing Middle School in Lansing, NY. I have worked as a school counselor for the past 20 years. My first 5 years of counseling were spent as an elementary and middle school counselor. A blog about the ideas and practices of a Middle School Counselor.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2013
Website themiddleschoolcounselor.com
Facebook fans 10,252. Twitter followers 3,359.

About Blog LINK for Counselors provides resources for High School and Transfer Counselors including College profiles, scholarship searches and college night handouts.
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Since Apr 2015
Website linkforcounselors.com/blog
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog Do It Yourself College Rankings helps families understand and use data to create custom lists of colleges that best meet their needs. Explains how to search for colleges that will provide the best financial aid and how to research colleges. Check out this site to get guidance for finding colleges.
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Since Dec 2010
Website diycollegerankings.com
Facebook fans 3,496. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog Simply Imperfect Counselor was made for school counselors, education bloggers and mamma's who want to raise em' right! If you love kids, education, and mental health, you will feel right at home here. So, kick up your feet, grab that coffee and stay a while! On this site, you can expect to get up-to-date, usable information and resources related to school counseling and parenting kiddos.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2017
Website simplyimperfectcounselor.com..
Facebook fans 52. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog Hey, y'all! I'm Sara. I have the privilege of serving as a school counselor at a Title 1 elementary school in a major urban district in the south. I'm particularly passionate about engaging and effective classroom lessons, curriculum mapping, and working with EL students. In this blog i'll be Sharing engaging and effective strategies, ideas, and resources with my school counseling colleagues!
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Since Sep 2013
Website theresponsivecounselor.blogs..
Facebook fans 167. Twitter followers n/a.

Virginia About Blog This blog was created to share experiences and resources with other elementary counselors. I am always looking for a new challenge and opportunities to share and network with other elementary counselors. I have my NCC and NBCT (School Counseling) credentials in addition to a masters degree and a PhD. I love to mentor new counselors. In 2011 the counseling program at my school achieved RAMP.
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Since Sep 2011
Website elementarycounseling.blogspo..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 1,742.

About Blog I am a middle school counselor in Germantown, TN, a suburb of Memphis (home of the blues and barbecue.) I have three fabulous kids and an amazing husband. Currently, we have 3 cats, two dogs, 2 llamas, 9 chickens and 2 ducks. In this blog you will find adventures of a middle school counselor.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2014
Website thecounselingteacher.blogspo..
Facebook fans 1,968. Twitter followers 63.

About Blog The Niwot High School Counseling Department created this blog to provide students and parents with readily-available information pertaining to students' academic, social/emotional, and college/career success.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Website blogs.svvsd.org/nhscounseling
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

Merrimac, MA About Blog Laurie Mendoza, MA, CAGS has been a certified elementary school counselor in Massachusetts since 1999. Prior to that she was a children's outpatient clinician for 7 years.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2017
Website schoolcounselingfiles.com/blog
Facebook fans 4,701. Twitter followers 181.

About Blog A CHS School Counseling Blog for Supporting Cavalier Nation.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2012
Website chscounseling.blogs.ccps.us
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog I love to learn and I love to share! Much of what I know about school counseling has been learned through trial and error in the everyday experiences of working with students, teachers, and families. I am forever grateful to my mentors and colleagues who have shared advice and their best practices with me. It is my desire to "pay it forward" to offer ideas, resources, and encouragement to others
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2014
Website exploringschoolcounseling.bl..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 650.

About Blog My name is Danielle Schultz. I am a middle school counselor and founder of School Counselor Blog, a place where school counselors share innovative ideas, creative lessons, and quality resources! I am a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2009
Website schcounselor.com
Facebook fans 13,813. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog A School Counseling Blog. Here you will find Lesson Plans and More For School Counselors.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2017
Website crabtreecounseling.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 100.

North Carolina, USA About Blog Hi, I'm Rebecca Atkins! I'm a school counselor & central office administrator. On my blog, Counselor Up, I share tips on organizing your comprehensive school counseling program, lesson plans, group ideas, and individual counseling tips. Counselor Up! is a place to share some of the ideas, organizing tools, and planning for a comprehensive school counselor program!
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2014
Website counselorup.com
Facebook fans 2,335. Twitter followers 817.

About Blog School counseling ideas, tips and enthusiasm! I am always thinking about new ideas to use with my students. Ideas that will grab their attention, get them engaged, have an impact, and help them to be successful in school and in life. This is my 18th year as an urban elementary school counselor. I am also certified to teach elementary students and special education students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2010
Also in Elementary Teacher Blogs
Website entirelyelementary.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 2,087.

About Blog As a school counselor, I understand how difficult it can be to find new, innovative, and fun ideas to implement with your students, so I've decided to compile my favorite classroom lessons, session ideas, and organization tips for all of you to use with the children at your schools, as well as style ideas and self care practices to encompass every aspect of The School Counselor Life.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2015
Website theschoolcounselorlife.com
Facebook fans 614. Twitter followers n/a.

Portland, OR About Blog I've been working as an elementary school counselor since I obtained my Master's Degree in Education in 2005. When I first started as a counselor,I've made it my mission to find contemporary books that help address the many issues children currently have to deal with. I handpick all of my books and will only post books I actually use and truly make a difference in a child's life.
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Since Oct 2009
Website booksthathealkids.blogspot.com
Facebook fans 4,357. Twitter followers 3,283.

San Diego, CA About Blog Hatching Results provides training, consultation, grant writing and program evaluation to support school counselors, administrators and school districts in designing, implementing and evaluating school counseling programs. We teach, empower and support those who use data in an effort to improve efficiency and effectiveness, leading to improved outcomes for students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2014
Website hatchingresults.com/blog
Facebook fans 444. Twitter followers 195.

Ohio About Blog A blog that shares my experiences as a school counselor and elementary school teacher. I share creative counseling lessons, social-emotional book reviews, and organization and documentation tips.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2012
Website edukateandinspire.blogspot.com
Facebook fans 1,813. Twitter followers 452.

About Blog The "Elementary School Counselor" blog is dedicated to elementary school counselors as a forum to share, inspire and expand best practices as the #1 resource for elementary school counselors. Scott Ertl is an elementary school counselor eager to help other counselors with classroom guidance lessons, individual and group counseling.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Dec 2013
Website elementaryschoolcounselor.org
Facebook fans 2,952. Twitter followers 191.

Lexington, SC About Blog Welcome to The Creative Counselor. I started this blog to share creative ways to counsel children. I am an Elementary School Counselor in Lexington, South Carolina. I have been a school counselor since 1993 and received my National Board Certification in 2004. Recently I just renewed my National Board Certification in 2013! I love developing fun, creative ways for children to learn and share
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2012
Website thecreativecounselor.blogspo..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 179.

Tennessee About Blog Hi, I am Laura. This is a Pawsitive School Counseling Blog. Here you will find Creative Ways to Counsel Children.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2012
Website pawsitiveschoolcounseling.bl..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 596.

About Blog Hello. I'm Judi. A mom, school counselor, creative and entrepreneur. I'm here to help school counselors thrive through creating: Connection, Clarity & Self-care. I help school counselors get organized & practice self-care.
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Since Jun 2017
Website connectedschoolcounselor.com..
Facebook fans 68. Twitter followers 704.

About Blog I'm just an elementary school counselor trying to reach as many children as possible.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Feb 2016
Website mrsbell-the-crafty-counselor..
Facebook fans 2,237. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog I am in my 13th year as an elementary school counselor in the great state of NC. Nothing excites me more than trying new things and learning from all the great counselors out there. I hope some of the ideas I share will get you excited, too!
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2011
Website lifeontheflycounselor.blogsp..
Facebook fans 1,539. Twitter followers 467.

Massachusetts, USA About Blog Welcome to School Counseling Confessions! I am a teacher turned school counselor for the past 10 years. To sum me up - I am school counselor by day and a soccer, swim, basketball, ballet taxi driver by night. I am a hiking, shopping at Marshalls and game boarding kind of girl. I am not a writer and I will share my opinion that you may or may not like.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2015
Website schoolcounselingconfessions.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 23.

New York, NY About Blog Hi! I'm a former school psychologist and special education director. Nowadays, I'm an overcaffeinated consultant in New York City working to improve the social and emotional skills of students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2015
Website socialemotionalworkshop.com
Facebook fans 1,088. Twitter followers 394.

About Blog Hey, y'all! I am Melanie over at The Stylish School Counselor! I have been a Kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, elementary counselor, and now...middle school counselor. I absolutely love being a counselor and learn new things each day. I started this blog as a way to share ideas, products, resources, and to network with other counselors around the country.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Dec 2012
Website stylishschoolcounselor.blogs..
Facebook fans 2,146. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog My Name Is Traci, And I Am The Direct Product Of An Uh-mazing Teacher And Uh-mazing Counselor Who Believed In Me When No One Else Did... And I Plan To Pay It Forward In A Big Way. On This Website You Will Find Tons Of Resources To Refresh Your Counselor Life!
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Mar 2017
Website counselortraci.com/blog
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 962.

About Blog I have been a school counselor since 1997 and have been blessed to work at every level, including high school department chair. I have worked in three states and for six school districts. Currently, I am the Supervisor for the 3rd largest school division in VA. This is a blog that is full of information, resources and insight to help today's school counselors become extraordinary!
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jul 2012
Website extraordinaryschcounselor.bl..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog A Blog of views and opinions from school counselors about the counseling profession.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2011
Website hscw-counselorscorner.blogsp..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

Virginia About Blog Hey there! I started blogging about my experiences through graduate school and now have continued as a working school counselor. I am currently working in an elementary school but try hard to keep up-to-date on all things school counselor, as well as topics in education. I hope to share ideas, document what I am doing, network, be inspired, inspire, and collaborate with others through this blog.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2013
Website thespiritedschoolcounselor.w..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 844.

Greenville, SC About Blog Hi, I am a High school counselor, connector, idea sharer, caffeine addict.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Nov 2013
Website counselorclique.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 684.

Lutherville, MD About Blog Baltimore County Association of Counseling and Development is the professional association of school counselors in Baltimore County.
Frequency about 5 posts per week.
Since May 2016
Website baltcoschoolcounselors.org
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 2,511.

Fort Myers, FL About Blog The mission of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) department of counseling is to prepare exemplary professional practitioners, leaders and scholars. The department uses a research-practitioner approach that integrates the use of current technology, supervised field experiences, scholarly enquiry and intellectual and creative resources to work with an increasingly diverse and global society.
Frequency about 4 posts per week.
Since Jul 2012
Website fgcu-counseling.blogspot.com
Facebook fans 334. Twitter followers 691.

About Blog SchoolCounselor.com was created in 1999 by Russell Sabella, PhD for the purpose of advancing solution focused counseling and technology literacy among counselors. School counselors and other educators can explore free resources, and learn from our video tutorials.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Feb 2007
Website schoolcounselortv.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 3,203.

New Mexico About Blog The mission of the New Mexico School Counselor Association is to promote excellence in the profession of school counseling and the development of all students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2016
Website nmsca.org/blog
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 600.

About Blog Magellan College Counseling has 8 independent educational consultants who make the college application process more organized and less stressful for high school students and their families.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2016
Website magellancounseling.com/blog
Facebook fans 529. Twitter followers n/a.

National City, CA About Blog Sweetwater High School Counselors are committed to providing a comprehensive counseling and guidance program as a vehicle to assist students in acquiring and using life-long learning and self-managing skills. We are committed to implementing a proactive and preventative program which employs strategies to enhance student academic success, provide career awareness & develop employment readiness.
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Since Oct 2012
Website suhicounseling.blogspot.com
Facebook fans 20. Twitter followers 447.

St Louis, MO About Blog Hi, I am Hayley Arnold a School Counselor. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with students in Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Bamberg, Germany, a K-12 school in northwest Missouri, and a K-8 building in Jefferson County. I love learning and working with children. They teach me so much everyday!
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2013
Website obschoolcounseling.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 295.

Estherville, IA About Blog ELC High School Counselor. Updating students and parents on college information and other opportunities.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2014
Website mrsbrechwald.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 286.

About Blog High School Counselor Directory allows you to access contact information for High School Counselors from across the United States. Read the latest post from the students and teacher. Be up to date with all the current activities
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since May 2017
Website highschoolcounselordirectory..
Facebook fans 255. Twitter followers n/a.

Texas About Blog With over 20 years of teaching and counseling experience, I am currently a bilingual school counselor in a Central Texas public school system. This website addresses current issues in the school counseling world! In my monthly posts, I will provide helpful tips and links to enhance your counseling.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since May 2015
Website schoolcounselorstephanie.com..
Facebook fans 68. Twitter followers 100.

Los Gatos, CA About Blog Dr. Schwartz founded Thrive College Counseling in order to support teens with learning differences make the difficult but important transition into adulthood. Thrive College Counseling works with students to discover their best college fit in order to ensure a successful transition to the college or program of their choice after high school.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2015
Website thrivecollegecounseling.com/..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 48.

About Blog Hi, I am a school counselor at Wright Elementary in Des Moines, IA.I grew up in Des Moines Public Schools and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2007. I attended the University of Kansas where I received a Bachelor's in Social Work and completed a year-long practicum at Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. in Kansas City.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2015
Website mrshoganschoolcounselor.com/..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 40.

About Blog The mission of the school counseling program is to facilitate development of excellence in professional competence, personal growth, and respect for diversity in order to prepare graduates for distinguished service particularly in the areas of leadership, advocacy and support of the educational achievement and life success skills of all students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2014
Website gonzagascblog.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog A blog to share information with students, teachers, parents/guardians, staff and fellow counselors
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2012
Website montessoricounselor.blogspot..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog A resource for students in grades 9-12 from the first day of high school until the day they earn their diploma.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2014
Website tomahawkscounselingcorner.bl..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog Mr Jim James Fisher School Counseling blog School related topics at Vantage Career Center including FAFSA, NTHS, School Van Wert Ohio.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Nov 2014
Website mrfishersschoolcounselingblo..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog The school counselors at Memorial and the Senior High Schools are committed to advocating student success.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Sep 2013
Website thunderboltschoolcounseling...
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog San Juan High School offers complete school counseling services. They are also able to connect families to other counseling services offered.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Oct 2015
Website sjhcounselor.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

About Blog A Carlisle Counseling Blog is a resource for students.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jul 2009
Website carlislecounseling.blogspot.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

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Top 60 School Counselor Blogs & Websites For School Counselors in 2018

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New York, New York About Blog We are a group of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers working together to bring resources to our colleagues. This was made for you. Confident Counselors is a monthly round up of resources, products, best practices, articles, comic relief, blog posts, give aways and ideas in action.

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Quiz Yourself: Do You Lead with Emotional Intelligence?

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Rate yourself on five key dimensions, and see how you compare with others.

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Professional Development

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John Hattie on the Educator Mindframe and Why It Matters

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Roberto Padilla

Districtwide Equity

Roberto Padilla

Districtwide Equity

As a former foster child, Superintendent Roberto Padilla of Newburgh, N.Y., connects deeply with students who face steep barriers to achieving their goals. He is rooting out decades of inequities to clear a path to success for all students.

Read More > >

Joanna Burt-Kinderman

Math Instruction

Joanna Burt-Kinderman

Math Instruction

Joanna Burt-Kinderman, districtwide instructional math coach in Pocahontas County, W.Va., empowers math teachers and math students in her district to be collaborative and creative problem-solvers, leading to some of the top middle and high school math performance in the state.

Read More > >

Emilio Pack

Access & Opportunity for Students of Color

Emilio Pack

Access & Opportunity for Students of Color

STEM Preparatory Schools Founder and CEO Emilio Pack is building a pipeline of schools in South Los Angeles that aims to transform low-income students of color into high-tech problem solvers with college degrees and white-color salaries.

Read More > >

"I think it's really important for us to hear from practitioners in the field about their struggles, their journey, and where they're finding success."

-Henry Strom, superintendent, Grandview School District, Grandview, Wash. | Register today.

Leaders To Learn From is also an annual event recognizing outstanding district leadership. Our 2018 event took place in Washington, D.C., on April 11 and 12. It featured deep-dive discussions about leadership challenges and solutions, keynote presentations, and more.

WATCH VIDEOS

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Education Week Leaders To Learn From - Education Week introduces a way to recognize forward-thinking education leaders and share their ideas.

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Roberto Padilla Districtwide Equity Roberto Padilla Districtwide Equity As a former foster child, Superintendent Roberto Padilla of Newburgh, N.Y., connects deeply with students who face steep barriers to achieving their goals. He is rooting out decades of inequities to clear a path to success for all students.

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Online June 2018 | Volume 75
Fighting Educator Burnout Pages 46-51

Janet Patti, Allison Holzer, Robin S. Stern, James Floman and Marc A. Brackett

For school leaders, stress is inevitable. The day-to-day grind of leading is emotionally demanding, and new challenges and higher accountability create a fever pitch of emotion that can churn inside even the strongest of leaders.

However, although stress is expected for education leaders, burnout can be optional. Moderate amounts of healthy stress triggered by efforts to achieve meaningful goals (called eustress in the research literature) can increase personal accomplishment and workplace engagement and even improve job performance (McGonigal, 2016).

The problem arises when stress becomes so frequent and so overwhelming that it leaves educators physically and emotionally depleted and they no longer feel a sense of passion and personal accomplishment (Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001; Le Fevre, Matheny, & Kolt, 2003). When this happens, stress becomes distress, and one runs the risk of burning out.

The impact of constant stressors-such as the social-emotional demands of work or a steady stream of crises that challenge one's sense of perspective-can lead to the chronic depletion of mental and physical resources or "emotional exhaustion" (Grissom & Andersen, 2012; Maslach et al., 2001). But this level of distress can be effectively navigated, or even avoided. Research suggests that principals with higher levels of self-efficacy tend to display higher levels of work engagement and job satisfaction, along with lower levels of burnout (Federici & Skaalvik, 2012). Self-efficacy is a key psychological capacity for inoculation against the high pressures of educational leadership.

Getting Emotional

To understand how a leader's sense of personal accomplishment and self-efficacy can fade or grow, we have to understand the power of emotions. A recent study found that school leaders who reported greater levels of emotional exhaustion were more likely to experience a range of negative emotions, such as anxiety or anger, and were less likely to experience various positive emotions, such as hope or joy (Brackett, Floman, & Bradley, 2018). Also, emotionally exhausted leaders were less satisfied with their jobs and were more likely to want to quit the profession or retire.

Not only does burnout take a toll on a leader's work, but it also has a negative impact on his or her mental and physical health. The same study found that leaders who scored higher on emotional exhaustion reported exercising less frequently, missing more work days due to stress and mental health problems, and experiencing greater sleep troubles.
Researchers and educators from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Star Factor Coaching have been helping superintendents in the New York City school district strengthen their emotional intelligence by showing that emotions matter. Photos courtesy of Janet Patti Madeline Chaffee and Kathryn Lee teach emotional intelligence training in Brooklyn, New York.
Flexing Our Emotional Intelligence Muscles

Emotional exhaustion-a by-product of chronic unhealthy stress-is not inevitable for school leaders. A major cause of distress is when leaders mismanage emotionally charged situations. This suggests that, by developing the skills of emotional intelligence (EI) (Salovey & Mayer, 1990), school leaders can prevent much workplace stress.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize emotions in one's self and in others, to understand the causes and effects of emotions, and to manage emotions effectively to suit a goal or situation (Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 2016). Leaders with developed EI possess greater self-awareness: Among other actions, they pause multiple times throughout the school day to reflect on their emotions and their meaning. Critically, emotionally intelligent leaders learn to recognize the behaviors, triggers, and events that lead to unhealthy stress.

Since 2015, the New York City school district has spearheaded an unprecedented initiative to infuse EI training throughout the school system. Partnering with our organizations- Star Factor Coaching and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence -NYC has developed a program that includes intensive professional development training and coaching in emotional intelligence for district and school leaders.

Dolores Esposito served 11 years as a superintendent before taking on her current role as an executive superintendent of leadership at the New York City Department of Education. She says the emotional intelligence training she has received helps her thrive rather than burn out in psychologically demanding positions. The skills she has learned not only help her to manage her own emotions, but they also empower her to recognize and understand others' feelings, especially those who have competing needs and require personalized support to move toward positive action. Further, Esposito now recognizes authentic listening as an essential skill that facilitates her leadership efforts and supports the needs of all school stakeholders.

"Without emotional intelligence strategies and skills, it would have been much more difficult to effectively lead, inspire, and manage the complexity of the 21st century superintendent's role," Esposito says.

A New Professional Development

As part of the EI development program, all New York City school leaders attend training sessions that are based on RULER, a tool developed by researchers at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence that provides an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning. It teaches five key skills: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions (see " Focus Areas for Developing Emotional Intelligence"). From the outset, the educators learn that emotions matter in schools, especially for learning, decision making, relationships, health, and everyday performance. Using role plays, reflection, and feedback, they practice applying these skills in positive communication, conflict management, empathy, and systems thinking.

To reinforce and individualize leaders' learning, the district partners with leadership coaches from our two organizations. The coaches work with individual leaders for five months to explore emotional challenges and successes. Coaches ask questions, listen, and provide resources on how leaders can develop specific skills, such as emotional regulation. These skills directly help to build resilience and support healthy interpersonal problem solving and conflict resolution.

The coaching process begins with leaders reflecting on their personal and professional vision and values and setting personal and professional goals for their own development. Then, throughout the process, the leaders get intensive and thorough feedback on their leadership behaviors. The feedback helps them identify the gap between the leader they are and the leader they hope to become. Blind spots and challenge areas are identified and become the focus of leadership development goals. Examples of development goals include: listening more (and solving problems without others' input less), showing empathy to others in need, being more present and focused, empowering rather than micromanaging others, managing frustration or disappointment more effectively, and being more in tune with the emotions of those around them (rather than making assumptions). As leaders make progress toward their goals, they generally become more hopeful and confident about their leadership and what is possible for their school community.

As school leaders build their leadership self-efficacy, they model their emotional intelligence skills. These leaders actively and regularly articulate their vision to the larger school community. For example, one superintendent who has undergone coaching now begins every professional development meeting with stories about her progress developing greater self-awareness and self-management. She speaks about how she now uses breathing exercises and pauses before reacting when she feels angry. This is in comparison to how she used to blurt out whatever she was thinking or feeling, sometimes to the detriment of others. Her transparency about her leadership growth inspires others to grow themselves, generating a positive contagion of personal development throughout her district.

A Systemwide, Cascading Impact

The focus on emotionally intelligent leadership in NYC public schools has fostered a systemwide effort to build a culture anchored in emotional intelligence. The leaders' training has helped to transform multiple school communities into collaborative learning environments with a shared vision, common values, and clear norms of how to develop together. With enhanced EI skills, healthy relationships thrive and supportive social networks accelerate student success. Through the ripple effects of implementing EI training in leaders, positive communication and healthy social-emotional development can spread to teachers and to students (Jennings & Greenberg, 2009).

In these school communities, self-awareness and self-management skills have become the pillars of pedagogy and school culture. Educators become proactive with their emotions, which helps them to avert the array of workplace stressors that trigger burnout and turnover. This can also lead to more conscious interactions, generative relationships, and a willingness to support one another through challenging moments. In schools with this developmental focus, conflict gets put on the table instead of under it, and adults work through the hard issues instead of avoiding them. Assumptions are challenged, and differences are explored to find common ground. In schools where EI is integrated throughout, adults are equipped to work through all of the hard spots.

Where to Start

Not every district may be ready to implement a systemwide approach to promoting emotional intelligence. However, all education leaders can take steps today to focus on the five key ingredients of EI skill building. In the absence of a more formalized investment in EI leadership or professional development, every school district or school leader can:

Create an expectation that emotions matter. Emotions are a part of everyone, and all leaders can get better at how we handle stressors.

Foster a culture that not only includes traditional instructional learning coaching, but also supports leaders and teachers socially andemotionally.

Incorporate self-reflection practices into every professional development opportunity. Reflection exercises should explore ways to examine our thinking about our emotions and our emotional skill levels.

Prioritize time in meetings to discuss school challenges and ideas with community members and receive feedback about how teachers and leaders handled difficult situations.

Revisit community norms regularly to check in on how everyone is feeling about the school's climate.

Emphasize self-care practices, such as meditation, yoga classes, exercise, and retreats. Allow teachers to include a self-care commitment when they set their performance goals.

Encourage individuals to take short physical or mental breaks every 45-60 minutes, to focus on work that makes them feel capable and productive, and to use their time off for enjoyable activities.

When given time and space for EI development, education leaders are more likely to see moderate levels of stress as a pathway toward self-efficacy and personal accomplishment. With self-awareness to detect the onset of unhealthy stress and helpful strategies to manage stress, leaders are more likely to reach out for emotional and community support, avoid burnout, reconnect with their purpose, and more passionately and skillfully cultivate flourishing schools.

References

Brackett, M. A., Floman, J. L., & Bradley, C. (2018). Emotion revolution for education leaders (survey). Unpublished data. Yale University.

Federici, R., & Skaalvik, E. (2012). Principal self-efficacy: Relations with burnout, job satisfaction, and motivation to quit. Social Psychology Education, 15(3), 295-320.

Grissom, J. A., & Andersen, S. (2012). Why superintendents turn over. American Educational Research Journal, 49(6), 1146-1180.

Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491-525.

Le Fevre, M., Matheny, J., & Kolt, G. S. (2003). Eustress, distress, and interpretation in occupational stress. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 18(7), 726-744.

Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. American Review of Psychology, 52, 397-422.

Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (2016). The ability model of emotional intelligence: Principles and updates. Emotion Review, 8(4), 290-300.

McGonigal, K. (2016). The upside of stress. New York: Avery.

Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211.

Janet Patti is a professor in educational leadership at Hunter College and cofounder of Star Factor Coaching, a consulting firm that partners with districts and schools to build social and emotional capacities in educators. Allison Holzer is the co-founder of the talent-strategy firm InspireCorps and the principal design, research, and strategy officer for Star Factor Coaching. Robin S. Stern is the associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University and co-founder of Star Factor Coaching. James Floman is a postdoctoral associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University. Marc A. Brackett is a professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

KEYWORDS

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Online June 2018 | Volume 75 Fighting Educator Burnout Pages 46-51 Janet Patti, Allison Holzer, Robin S. Stern, James Floman and Marc A. Brackett For school leaders, stress is inevitable. The day-to-day grind of leading is emotionally demanding, and new challenges and higher accountability create a fever pitch of emotion that can churn inside even the strongest of leaders.

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School Counselor of the Year | American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase "servant leadership" was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:

"The servant-leader is servant first... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions...The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

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A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the "top of the pyramid," servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

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What is Servant Leadership? - Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership

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While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase "servant leadership" was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said: "The servant-leader is servant first... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.

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Resources for counselors

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TSCA Texas School Counselors Association |

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At TSCA, our mission is to serve professional school counselors by advocating for and advancing the role of the professional school counselor and the comprehensive school guidance and counseling program throughout Texas.

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Certifications and counselor resources

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Home - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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Begin with the end in mind.

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