Elementary school staff perceptions of guidance counselor roles and guidance program needs

Abstract

In recent years, school counselors have become more readily seen in elementary schools across the country. Many guidance counselors accept the roles expected of them from district administration to determine the type of programs and services needed. However, teachers and staff also directly working with the students and therefore are in a unique position for offering ideas about programming. The purpose of this study was to document the perceptions that elementary school teachers and staff have towards the roles of a school counselor and a school counseling program. Data was collected through a survey distributed to kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school teachers and staff at a rural Midwestern elementary school in March 2004. The study attempted to address two questions. First, it determined what elementary school teachers and staff at the school perceive to be important guidance and counseling services and programs. It also gathered information from the same staff regarding their perceptions of the importance of specific roles and functions of the school counselor position. Overall, the findings suggest that most of the roles expected of a school counselor, are seen as important and essential by school staff. Some roles were considered most important for counselor to perform: counsel students individually and in small groups; consult with teachers and other staff; refer students as needed; and promote a positive and healthy school climate for all students. The duty that has the highest amount of participants respond, "should not provide" was a counselor assisting with bus, lunch and recess duties. The researcher's overall goal was to determine what elementary school staff believe to be important counselor functions and program needs. These perceptions were sought after to document what important roles were needed and what topics should be included in a program. A counselor may be central to the guidance program, but it takes an effort and opinion from everyone involved to make the implementation successful.