Juggling the Responsibilities of a Middle School Counselor: 4 Main Responsibilities of a Middle School Counselor

Middle school counselors have the ability and obligation to balance multiple tasks at once. Providing challenges and support, middle school counselors make it their goal to promote identity development as the students reach adolescence (Gerler, 1991). Middle school counselors are ultimately working towards academic, social, career, and personal development in students (Bureau of Labor and Statistics [BLS], 2009). The four main responsibilities include school guidance curriculum, individual student planning, system support, and responsive services (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2006).

School Guidance Curriculum

Middle school counselors establish and incorporate guidance curriculum for all of the students in the school. School guidance curriculum can vary, depending on what the counselor chooses or what the school administration feels as though the students need. School counselors have to choose what the most important priorities are and then cater the guidance curriculum according to those priorities (Gerler, 1991). One focus of the curriculum could be on academic study skills. By teaching about academic study skills, the counselor can focus on skills such as organization, studying or test taking, along with educating the students to better understand how they learn (ASCA, 2006). Another focus of school guidance curriculum could be on social skills and relationships. A counselor can choose to teach about the importance of communicating, problem solving, conflict resolution, and decision making (ASCA, 2006). School counselors can also choose to focus on other topics such as career exploration, substance abuse education, and diversity awareness (ASCA, 2006). Preventative and developmental programs are considered the most cost effective and can be the most encouraging to the students (Gerler, 1991).

Planning

Middle school counselors also work with students individually to help them with planning for the future. Most middle school counselors are responsible for academic planning, by setting the schedules for each individual student. Middle school counselors can meet with each student either individually or in a group to discuss potential academic planning for the upcoming school year (ASCA, 2006). Related to academic planning, school counselors are able to help with transition process for moving towards the high school level, by preparing students for the additional stresses and social pressures (Gerler, 1991). School counselors can also work with individual students to help them learn more about themselves. School counselors can provide opportunities for students to learn about their strengths, weaknesses, goal setting, and problem solving (ASCA, 2006).

System Support

Middle school counselors also are liaisons for providing system support for the rest of the school community. Middle school counselors are often responsible for multiple programs and collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, students, and the community (ASCA, 2006). Middle school counselors specifically work with teachers to facilitate professional development in curriculum, counseling, academic planning, or other programs (ASCA, 2006). Since middle school counselors are responsible for so many programs, collaboration with teachers and administrators is crucial to making the programs run efficiently.

Responsive Services

The most critical responsibility of a middle school counselor relates to actually counseling students. Middle school counselors have an opportunity to get to know students more personally and potentially be an outlet for students who need help with something that they are encountering. School counselors work with individuals or groups in counseling sessions (ASCA, 2006). When necessary, school counselors also work in intervention, whether it is family, school, or individual crises (ASCA, 2006). School counselors also work with students based on referrals from teachers, staff, or students (ASCA, 2006). School counselors often are the advocates for children, identifying potential abuse or family problems (BLS, 2009).

To hear more about the roles of a school counselor, watch this video.