Support Fam/Faculty-ADMIN

School counselors deliverer indirect services on behalf of their students by communicating and consulting with families, faculty, administration, district leaders, school boards, and the local community. In these unprecedented times of lengthy school closures, school counselors leverage their professional relationships with all stakeholders in order to make the distance learning experience as successful and meaningful as possible. The following examples are specific to COVID-19 school closures.

Support of PARENTS/FAMILIES During Virtual/Distance Learning

Offer parent workshops/trainings virtually via zoom, google hangouts, videos, and/or webinars
Provide regular communication (newsletters, social media, videos) by providing coping strategies, mental health resources, and strategies to support their children students that are in distant learning programs for the first time Sample Communications to families with links es
Offer parents/families information on how to handle mental health emergencies and provide mental health hotline numbers
Advertise office hours and remind parents that they can make appointments with them
Collaborate with parent/family liaisons and the PTA to offer specific support parents are needing in response to COVID-19 . PTA COVID 19 Resources
Collaborate with staff to create a virtual parent/family center on your school’s website
Offer opportunities to connect with families, examples include holding a virtual coffee with the counselor, hosting mindfulness Monday virtual meetings, create a FAQ page for parents/families
Follow up with the parents of our most vulnerable students (foster families, homeless families) to see if they have what they need for distance learning and connect them to any resources they may need
Communicate with parents/families of students on an IEP or 504 to ensure the students are receiving the academic support needed in order to thrive

Support of TEACHERS During Virtual/Distance Learning

Create a short and simple Google Form referral to school counselors (i.e. unresponsive to teacher, unsettling comments made, lacking technology/wifi, lacking social connection with peers, less than 50% assignment completion, demonstrating inappropriate etiquette for virtual lessons)
Offer to co-teach or share previously recorded “mini lessons” that align with SEL components
Share/support engagement strategies that teachers can integrate into their lessons
Offer workshops for teachers on topics such as Social Emotional Learning

SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATORS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING

School counselors are always a great resource for administrators due to their relationships with all stakeholders and therefore can provide administrator support in the following ways:

Mitigating systemic barriers to distance learning
Identifying disparities in distance learning with regard to equity and access for all student groups
Support administrators with PBIS incentives during distance learning
Revisit the school’s FOCUS (Focusing on Children Under Stress) response team and determine if different protocols need to be established. FOCUS Flyer FOCUS Video (9 min.)
Be the lead person for communication with stakeholders (families & community)
Provide staff with weekly self care reminders and resources through staff newsletters and meetings. Supporting Staff with School Employee Well Being Practices
Co-teach Restorative Practices with other school leaders or lead restorative circles virtually
As plans for distance learning are finalized and implemented, it is also important to consider how school teams will support students upon their return to in person instruction. Starting to Plan for Schools Reopening and Transforming Student and Learning Supports

Support for Families & Faculty

Support of PARENTS/FAMILIES During Virtual/Distance Learning

Support of TEACHERS During Virtual/Distance Learning

SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATORS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING

School counselors are always a great resource for administrators due to their relationships with all stakeholders and therefore can provide administrator support in the following ways: