Today marks the first day of National School Counseling Week, a week dedicated to celebrating an amazing professional of individuals that are dedicated to student success.
Over the last decade I've had the privilege of working alongside some of Iowa's best educators through my work with ICAN and as a board member of the Iowa School Counselor Association. And I'm here to tell you no one cares more or works harder to ensure that students have the support they need to flourish.
At ICAN everything we do depends on the support of school counselors. School counselors are our gateway into the schools because they are the leaders for career and college readiness. It is their job to lead the charge in helping students find their path in life. They partner with ICAN and help us share resources and setup seminars in their schools, put in extra hours to help seniors file the FAFSA form and find scholarships.
School counselors are also our leaders in social-emotional learning - they help our students beginning in Kindergarten all the way through graduation discover how to be kind and compassionate, how to understand and work through their emotional responses to life's situations, and how to be safe and healthy and strong.
Through classroom work, small and large group activities, and individual sessions with students, school counselors cover a lot of ground and do absolutely amazing things. They are advocates for our students and we should take note of all they are able to do for our students to help them find their path in life and reach for the stars.
School counselors help build better humans - that's the theme of this year's National School Counseling Week, and I for one feel very luck to have them on our side.
So reach out to your school counselor this week and say thank you. If you are struggling to find your place, or want someone to talk to about your future, stop by and say hi. They are your advocate. They are there to help you find your place in this big ole world and make an impact in whatever way fits your passions. Let them help you, and remember to say thank you. Because helping you find your way is their passion.
Learn more about the role school counselors play at www.iaschoolcounselor.org or simply talk to your counselor today.
Thank you to all the school counselors out there every day working to build better humans and help our students succeed. We couldn't do our work with out you.
Brittania - ICAN Hiawatha Center
