Working with Parents/Guardians and Teachers
As the old adage goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Children do not grow in isolation, but instead come into contact with a number of individuals in their lifetime that help to mold and shape them into the young successful adults we all hope they become. It is my belief that positive outcomes are reached when those that students come in contact with most, including the adults in their home and school lives, are in communication with one another and are working toward common goals. While parents/guardians and teachers should be in communication with one another, I also believe it is important for school counselors and parents/guardians, as well as school counselors and teachers, to have good working relationships. I feel that the foundation of this relationship should begin by making clear to families and school staff what the role of school counselor entails, as well as through sharing opportunities to become involved in the school counseling program and outcome data from school counseling endeavors. By making their role more clear and sharing the exciting things being done in their program, school counselors open the door for communication and involvement. It is also important to note that school counselors may lead the way in promoting family-home connections in schools simply by being an example and encouraging other staff members to also reach out to families. Below are a few resources and examples both for encouraging teachers to reach out, as well as for bringing families and schools together to best meet the needs of students.