Leadership
As one of the four main themes of the ASCA National Model, leadership is a cornerstone of any successful school counseling department. In fact, it is only through being effective leaders that school counselors can become successful advocates, collaborators, and agents for systemic change, all aspects that are also crucial to the school counseling profession.
According to the ASCA National Model, leadership in the school counseling profession includes:
It is important to note that there are a number of leadership contexts that are relevant to the school counselor. The school counselor must be a structural leader by acquiring appropriate training and creating an effective school counseling program. He or she must also practice human resource leadership through believing in and empowering others. The school counselor should show their political leadership by understanding the distribution of power within their school and community, as well as by fostering positive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, such as students, teachers, and parents. Finally, the school counselor should be a symbolic leader, which can be done through leading by example.
While there are a variety of definitions used to conceptualize leadership, and while leadership may involve numerous roles, there is no denying that school counselors must view themselves as leaders in order to perform to their highest ability within their schools.
According to the ASCA National Model, leadership in the school counseling profession includes:
- supporting academic achievement and student development
- advancing effective delivery of the comprehensive school counseling program
- promoting professional identity
- overcoming challenges of role inconsistency
It is important to note that there are a number of leadership contexts that are relevant to the school counselor. The school counselor must be a structural leader by acquiring appropriate training and creating an effective school counseling program. He or she must also practice human resource leadership through believing in and empowering others. The school counselor should show their political leadership by understanding the distribution of power within their school and community, as well as by fostering positive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, such as students, teachers, and parents. Finally, the school counselor should be a symbolic leader, which can be done through leading by example.
While there are a variety of definitions used to conceptualize leadership, and while leadership may involve numerous roles, there is no denying that school counselors must view themselves as leaders in order to perform to their highest ability within their schools.