Information for Administrators
Welcome District and School Administrators!
School counselors are uniquely trained to help students succeed in school and plan their career through fostering academic, career, and social/emotional development. They play an essential role in the overall school system and as part of the leadership team by creating a culture of success for all students. Employed at all levels in the K-12 school system, school counselors implement a data-informed school counseling program to impact student achievement, attendance, and behavior.
SDSCA recognizes how vital school counselor-administration collaboration is to champion student success. This page is geared at providing information and resources to help administrators partner with and utilize their school counselors.
Who are School Counselors?
The South Dakota Department of Education and the American School Counselor Association provide resources to help individuals better understand the role of school counselors and how they positively impact student achievement, attendance, and behavior.
South Dakota Resources
National Resources
School-Counselor-to-Student Ratios (ASCA recommends a ratio of 1:250)
The Essential Role of School Counseling Directors/Coordinators
What is the Difference between a School Counselor, Guidance Counselor, and Student Advisor?
All three of these job titles are used in education, but can indicate very different things. It is important to use and educate others on the appropriate titles of the profession.
School counselor: A trained professional who provides academic, career, and social-emotional development to support all students to be successful. South Dakota school counselors are certified through the South Dakota Department of Education, indicating they have the proper training and credentials (SDCL 13-10-17). The appropriate job title for a certified professional in this role is "school counselor".
Guidance counselor: An outdated job title for a school counselor, reflecting a reactive, nonessential, loosely defined role. Research has shown that individuals with the title "guidance counselor" are perceived as less competent than those with the title "school counselor" (Zyromksi et al, 2018). "Guidance counselor" is not an appropriate job title for the school counseling profession of today.
Student advisor: A school employee who is employed in a school counselor-like role but is not a certified school counselor. "Student advisor" is the position used when districts report to the South Dakota Department of Education their personnel employed who are not certified as school counselors but employed in school counselor-like roles. Since there are no training requirements for student advisors, it is likely they are not equipped to effectively foster academic, career, and social/emotional development for all students.
Hiring, Interviewing, and Evaluating School Counselors
These resources can help identify the most highly qualified candidates as well as enhance a district's school counseling program based on best practices in school counseling.
Hiring & Interviewing Resources
Job opening can be posted on the Associated School Boards of South Dakota Teacher Placement Center. Administrators can also email the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to ask that a job opening be posted for ASCA members on the ASCA Member Community.
Evaluation Resources
School Counselor Performance Appraisal (aligned with the South Dakota School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies)
South Dakota School Counselor Annual Professional Evaluation Supporting Document
South Dakota School Counselor Annual Professional Evaluation Report
The Use of Data for Student Success June 2023 attendees with Hatching Results presenter, Julie Hartline.
Education and Training
SDSCA has curated resources to help school counselors and administrators stay active and informed. Below are resources and professional development opportunities to help administrators partner and collaborate with school counselors, and opportunities administrators can encourage school counselors to attend for relevant school counselor professional development.
Resources and Opportunities for Administrators to Partner with School Counselors
South Dakota Resources
National Resources
National School Counseling Leadership Conference (February 21-23, 2024, in San Diego, CA) - for administrators and lead school counselors
School Counselor-Administrator Monthly Check-In Tool Template by Hatching Results
Resources and Opportunities for School Counselors
South Dakota Resources
SDSCA Book Studies (Virtually)
SDSCA Counselor Connections (November 6, 2023, in Brookings)
SDCA Spring Conference (April 25-27, 2024, in Spearfish)
National Resources
National School Counseling Leadership Conference (February 21-23, 2024, in San Diego, CA) - for administrators and lead school counselors
ASCA U Specialist trainings (Virtually)
ASCA On-Site Training (Local school/district)
ASCA Conference (July 15-18, 2024, in Atlanta, GA)