New Focus On Guidance Counseling In Schools

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. June 21, 2017.  New guidance counselor, Weston Taylor told Rich School District Board members that most people think of school counselors as working with students who have emotional counseling, but in reality the guidance counselor is there to help students choose classes and other programs which will help them in career readiness.  The guidance counselor does do responsive services to help with life problems, these students are referred to other agencies with skilled counselors such as the Bear River Mental Health Services.

Taylor said that his priority is academic counseling and that he wants to help students and parents know what is necessary to graduate and to be college and career ready when they do graduate.   This year 67% of seniors earned college credit.   Forty of forty-two seniors had been accepted to post-secondary education    Taylor also said that while students in the district do well he will be concentrating on raising ACT and SAT scores with testing training and other programs.

Funding for counseling programs is provided by Comprehensive Guidance money from the State of Utah.  The legislature has been concerned that schools were not doing an adequate job of counseling students on career and college paths, so they put accountability into the legislation, which is why there is a yearly audit.  The district gets $40,000 in funding.  

First generation college students may need more advice too, especially with finding funding and learning to maneuver college admissions and registration.

The counselor helps students decide on a sequence of classes in middle and high school that focus on a chosen career, so that there is purpose to the curriculum.  He is also there to work with outside partners such as Bridgerland Technology College (BTC), Utah State University, Department of Workforce Services and other entities which will enhance career decision making.

Counseling starts with seventh and eighth graders, to let them know about BTC, and concurrent enrollment opportunities that are unique to the Rich County Schools.  A plan is mapped out for the student and a pathway to get to the goal, so that the students know about all opportunities and don’t miss out. The goal is to go to college or a post-secondary school with a purpose for a career.  Many students work with both BTC and a university, getting certifications for jobs in a tech field that will help to pay for their university work.

Superintendent Dale Lamborne said, “There was a time when you didn’t put as much effort into counseling for tech education, but now it is an important part of our efforts.   Many students who go to Bridgerland transfer to USU after they finished their certification program.”

The state audit of the Comprehensive Guidance Program identified areas in which the district could improve,  most of these are problems that have been identified from past years programs which have begun to be corrected under Taylor’s watch.  Another evaluation will be made at the end of next year.