ESC Region 12 Counselor Advisory Board "Pearls of Wisdom" to New Counselor Academy Members by Jenipher Janek

A weekly planner outlined with each major category my job entails! This keeps me accountable in so many areas, but most importantly ensures I meet with my weekly check-in students.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:51:49 UTC

Rage cleaning once you get home...Just kidding...sort of. I do one task at my house every night so I know I did something productive for the day! Cleaning my toilets is within my control.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:52:18 UTC

Always create some sort of temperature gage to measure how you're building relationships with kids. At the secondary level for me that is a "hallway check." If no student tells me hello, I use that as fuel to ensure I begin going in the cafeteria more, classes more, etc.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:54:07 UTC

Finding a sounding board. Find one person you trust their professional opinion so that when tough scenarios arise you have someone to talk to.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:54:46 UTC

Take the emotions home. Find some way to leave them at school.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:55:32 UTC

Managing it. Set timers, set goals, balance the clerical with the relational tasks so you don't get overwhelmed/ burnt out. It's inevitable a counselor's day will be interrupted, so setting milestones is helpful.

mharvey122 — 2025-02-11 19:57:46 UTC

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 19:59:31 UTC

Go to appropriate trainings, with the support of your administration, if you can in order to gain more knowledge of things that you might be your weakness.

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:00:36 UTC

Talk about confidentiality things that teachers and staff do not need to know. Some will definitely ask about certain things/students and you have to maintain boundaries.

stephaniewoodard — 2025-02-11 20:01:05 UTC

Think you should always have it together! Some days things just happen, and you react the best you can-tomorrow is always a new day:)

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:02:01 UTC

My google Calendar invite and our Tracking Sheet. It allows me to keep track and set goals for myself. It also allows me to see how much time I spend in each category.

stephaniewoodard — 2025-02-11 20:02:15 UTC

Believing a student before gathering all the facts - always take the time to gather all the information before making a decision.

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:03:07 UTC

Teacher complaints- this one is a hard one because they want to have someone to vent to. I am not that person since I work closely with my administration on the leadership team. I will be the support system teachers needs, and will not be a person that they can vent to.

stephaniewoodard — 2025-02-11 20:03:30 UTC

The support of my administration - it can truly make a huge difference in accomplishing your goals, and making changes when needed.

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:04:01 UTC

Alarms and timers through my Google invite. It keeps me on track for meetings, counseling groups, ARDS, and 504 meetings.

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:04:54 UTC

I love to read, use my Bible App, and exercise every day! I find that this helps me relieve a lot of my stress.

stephaniewoodard — 2025-02-11 20:05:07 UTC

Let it go when you walk out the door at work, and schedule time for you during the week to work out, watch your favorite series, and spend quality time with your important peeps :)

amcadams9 — 2025-02-11 20:06:15 UTC

I love using my "let's talk" slips on my door to see my students that need counseling if I am in a meeting, etc. The students really love it because they know that I check it every day and the students want and need my help in counseling.

stephaniewoodard — 2025-02-11 20:07:36 UTC

Weekly, Monthly and Yearly calendar - esp. yearly during the first few years. Trying to remember when Red Ribbon Week is, Veteran's Day, Testing, Holiday programs such as Food for Families and Angel Trees, spring scheduling (master and students), etc!!!

sfigg3 — 2025-02-11 21:33:34 UTC

Being able to talk to other counselors. Sometimes I just want to get reassurance that I am on the right track. It also helps me to talk over some of the topics that come to me. If I can get it off my chest - with a fellow confidential professional - then I may not be as likely to take it home with me.

sfigg3 — 2025-02-11 21:38:10 UTC

Keeping notes for myself. Even if it is just writing down today's date and the names of students I talked to, issues that came up or even what I need to do that day. My notes may be something that may means nothing to anyone else - but helps me remember what we talked about or what was going on then. * Always write

the date

sfigg3 — 2025-02-11 21:44:16 UTC

Changing a student's schedule without talking to the teacher. Sometimes you get busy and just need to get things done - but it is always nice to keep the teacher in the loop as much as possible.

wandariggs — 2025-02-11 21:51:48 UTC

Listening without reacting. These kids will tell you everything. Being objective and accepting helps them feel secure.

wandariggs — 2025-02-11 21:54:18 UTC

Google Calendar and binders (and an electric hole punch!)

I keep all my student info in "Class of" binders in a locked binder cabinet.

Oh, and the little spinning sign on my door that says:

"Welcome, Please Knock"

"In a Meeting:

"Do Not Disturb"

"Back Soon"

"Out of Office"

wandariggs — 2025-02-11 21:57:58 UTC

"I'm never too busy for you."

Students (and adults) will pop into my office and ask: "Are you busy?" The temptation is to say: "Well, what do you think?" iykyk

Student mental health is priority one, and they shouldn't feel like they are taking me away from something. No matter how swamped or overwhelmed I am, I always answer: "I'm never too busy for you."

sfigg3 — 2025-02-11 22:02:12 UTC

Be "out there" as much as you can. I really disliked lunch duty - but I realized that I got to know some students really well seeing them and visiting with them each day in lunch.

I try to stand at the door and greet students as they come in each morning. It is a really good way to catch any issues as they walk in the door.

Being visible to the teachers is also beneficial. Stand in the hallways between classes when you can - you get to see students - then can pop in a classroom and ask a teacher how they are doing or a specific student is doing. You learn more when you can be "out there"

wandariggs — 2025-02-11 22:06:24 UTC

Oh, so many. . .

Allowing a student to go halfway through the first semester before catching the fact that he was missing a required credit. He had to give up his Late Arrival for the rest of the year to take the class through an online provider.

Now I audit transcripts and schedules multiple times a year with our PEIMS coordinator. A second set of eyes is crucial.

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:16:29 UTC

Setting boundaries. There will always be more to do than hours to do them.

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:17:55 UTC

Google calendar and spreadsheets! And always date the documents

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:20:45 UTC

Carve out time for you. As much as I enjoy reading and exercising, going outside at night and just being in the quiet is what I need most.

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:21:14 UTC

Google forms for student referrals

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:22:23 UTC

Don't discount all the small interactions you have with students and staff. Walking the halls is a great way to get a lot of info - and have a post it or your phone handy to jot down notes because things will come up!

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:23:59 UTC

thinking I would remember! People are always grabbing me as I'm out and about. I have gotten much better at listening to them and then asking them to send me an email as a reminder

saracregan — 2025-02-11 22:25:19 UTC

stop reflecting.

Not being afraid to ask questions. Collaborating with other school counselors.

2025-02-12 13:57:56 UTC

2025-02-12 14:00:56 UTC

Stop learning, growing, and evolving as a school counselor. What may have worked in the past, may not work with today’s students.

Give up hope when it comes to kids. Some days can seem like you’re not making an impact, but in reality, some counselors plant seeds, some counselors water them, and some counselors see them grow. Your work is never in vain.

2025-02-12 14:01:59 UTC

Using organizational tools to stay organized. Writing out a daily “must do” list the day before.

2025-02-12 14:07:27 UTC

Believing the assumption of a teacher that a parent was volatile and hard to work with. When I met the parent, they were scared and worried that their child wouldn’t succeed in school. After peeling back the layers, I found out that their previous concerns were brushed off by other educators and they expected that I would do the same.

2025-02-12 14:08:39 UTC

Staying organized and creating boundaries. You’re not everyone’s therapist on campus.

2025-02-12 14:09:16 UTC

Take those sick days. Don’t feel guilty for not taking work home. It will still be there when you get back.

2025-02-12 14:10:48 UTC

Never stop learning. Don’t be afraid to think of new ideas. I started doing grief groups on my campus. It was never done before. Parents and kids look forward to them every year.

Having a school-wide SEL program (we use Character Strong). I also make a Google Sheet for each special week like Red Ribbon Week, Fire Prevention Week, and Career Week full of activities for each grade level team to do. It makes it very easy for me from year to year.

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:11:32 UTC

Scuta - I love tracking my time and having that piece of information so I know how much time I spend my day on each activity.

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:12:14 UTC

NEVER stay late. The work will be there the next day and you have a family and self-care for after school.

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:13:05 UTC

TCHATT - we just started using it this year and I LOVE having that resource for our kiddos. If you don't have it, get it!

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:14:05 UTC

Puzzles - I'm old. lol

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:14:33 UTC

Hug the kids as they come in for the day - it refills their bucket and yours!

kbryant93 — 2025-02-12 14:15:04 UTC

2025-02-12 15:05:29 UTC

Forming meaningful relationships with my admin team (nurse and SRO super important). Constant collaboration with one another and other counselors.

2025-02-12 15:07:06 UTC

Don’t take all the emotions home with you. Separate your home life from work life. Self care is SO important!

2025-02-12 15:09:18 UTC

All things google!! Google forms, sheets, calendar!! Staying connected with all region 12 counseling resources!! Scholar is awesome too!!

Elementary

2025-04-30 16:12:05 UTC

Support from experienced counselors, supportive admin, and counselor academy

Elementary

2025-04-30 16:13:57 UTC

Only share on a need to know bases, be used to do discipline, and stop learning

Elementary

2025-04-30 16:15:29 UTC

Counselor blog, being a part with counseling groups, and calendar/to do list.

Elementary

2025-04-30 16:23:56 UTC

Sharing information I thought was important but others took advantage of it and used it as gossip, students were mad because parents were called, and trust was broken.

Elementary

2025-04-30 16:24:40 UTC

To do list, calendar, staying organized that best fits us

Lean on experienced counselors. They have been there and their experience and advice are so very helpful.

2025-04-30 16:27:09 UTC

2025-04-30 16:28:33 UTC

New Counselor Academy and Reg12 bit.ly

2025-04-30 16:29:36 UTC

Playing calming music all day! It helps me and those who visit.