FAQ

What are the Qualifications of a School Counselor?
     AISD counselors are state-certified professionals with a master's degree in counseling that have a minimum of 2 years of classroom teaching experience.  Counselors continue their professional development by attending workshops and conferences on an ongoing basis.
http://archive.austinisd.org/academics/sss/gc/

 What is the role of the School Counselor?
 The role of the AISD counselors is to help all students at their local campus fully develop their academic, career, personal, and social abilities.  The counselor is an educator who  delivers a comprehensive guidance program in the school as recommended by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
     
What is a Guidance Program?
      A Comprehensive Guidance Program consists of four major areas.
1.  Classroom Guidance-  Counselors teach classroom lessons addressing basic life-long skills identified as essential for academic and personal success.  These skills include responsible behavior, conflict resolution, goal setting, and career planning, among others.

2.  Individual Planning-  Counselors help students to select appropriate courses, plan for transitions (i.e., elementary to middle school), and to provide students and parents information on careers and post secondary education and training.

3.  Responsive Services- Counselors assist students with an immediate personal concern, a crisis, or a problem that may be affecting their achievement in school.  The counselor may provide short-term individual sessions or in a small group with other students that face similar challenges.

4.  System Support- The school system includes many programs designed to support students.  Counselors assist in the referral process of students to appropriate support programs and services provided both within the school setting and to outside agencies.  System Support has two components:
    a.  Educating the staff about the Comprehensive Development Guidance and Counseling Program
    b.  Supporting the staff with professional development, consultation and assisting with community outreach.

What are the topics that are commonly addressed in small group counseling sessions?
     Topics often addressed by school counselors in small groups include: social skills/friendship, organization and study skills, changing families, anger management, self-concept, and school success. Other topics are addressed as deemed appropriate.
 
I feel as though my child needs to receive individual counseling for an issue occurring in our lives at this time. Can our school counselor provide individual counseling?
      School counselors do see students on an individual basis from time to time. Due to time constraints, they are not able to see students individually for an extended time. If your school counselor feels, after meeting with your child for two or three sessions, that your child needs further assistance he/she will inform you of further options.

 Why Contact a Professional School Counselor?
 To assist a student with:
*  Transition to a new school
*  Registration process and orientation
*  Academic achievement concerns
*  Post-secondary plans (college, technical schools, financial aid)
*  Standardized test interpretation
*  Special personal needs of students
*  Crisis situations
*  Family transitions (i.e. death, divorce, re-marriage, new siblings, etc.)

 
How might I contact my child's school counselor?
      Easy!  Please email or call our direct lines:

sheila.wessels@austinisd.org
512-414-4275

stephanie.winfrey@austinisd.org
512-414-4272