STAFF RELATIONSHIPS: “Belonging to”

STAFF RELATIONSHIPS: “Belonging to” EDGC 679 PRESENTED BY: JANEAH GULLETT

OBJECTIVES • TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE HELPING RELATIONSHIPS • TO SHARE EXAMPLES THAT DEMONSTRATE HEALTHY, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLAGUES • TO EMPHASIZE TECHNIQUES THAT PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING PRACTICES IN AN EFFECTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF SERVICES

BECOMING ONE OF THEM SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM. TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE NEED TO BE ACCEPTED AND SOUGHT AFTER BY THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. ( Schmidt,John J. 1991)

EIGHT TO COMTEMPLATE • COUNSELING AND CONSULTING RELATIONSHIPS ARE ESSENTIALLY EDUCATIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL IN NATURE • WE WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES • KNOW YOUR LIMITS IN KEEPING TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE COUNSELING PROGRAM

MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE TO COLLAGUES HOW COUNSELING SERVICES ENABLE STUDENTS TO STUDY BETTER, ATTEND CLASS, BEHAVE APPROPRIATELY AND ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY • COLLABORATE WITH TEACHERS AND PARENTS • RESPECT AND CONSIDER THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN DESIGNING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS

CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATORS IS ESSENTIAL • BE INFORMED ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY

BECOMING ONE OF THEM BY PERSONALLY DEMONSTRATING CONCERN AND REGARD FOR INDIVIDUALS, YOU SET THE STAGE FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL INVITATIONS AND INTERACTIONS TO BE ACCEPTED. (Purkey,W.W. & Schmidt, J.J 1990)

RELATING PERSONALLY • BE VISIBLE • Morning welcome • Exchange greetings • Celebrate events • Hold a happy hour • Lunch invitations • BE INVISIBLE • “Don’t let the left hand know what the right is doing” (New Testament, Proverbs)

BECOMING ONE OF THEM NOT ALL COUNSELORS WHO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AT PERSONAL LEVELS ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. (Gysbers,N.C. & Henderson,P. 1988)

RELATING PROFESSIONALLY • SEEK INPUT • Individual contacts • Group discussions • Committee input • Written communication • SHARING INFORMATION • Select carefully • Know your audience • Demonstrate respect

FACILITATE GROUPS • Teacher support groups • Parent support groups • PROVIDE STAFF DEVELOPMENT • Be prepared • Start and end on time • Avoid mandatory workshops • Arrange meeting room that facilitates participation and discussion • Have refreshments • Use humor • Call on the expertise of others • Evaluate the in service

PROMOTE POSITIVE DISCIPLINE • Invite and involve everyone in your school to participate in a school wide positive approach to discipline.(Schmidt,J.J. 1989)

A FINAL THOUGHT BELONGING TO YOUR SCHOOL MEANS CREATING A SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS AND MUTUAL BENEFIT IN ALL YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF “BEING WITH” RATHER THAN “DOING TO” OTHERS THAT YOU WORK WITH.(Gullett,J. 2012)

REFERENCES Gysbers,N.C. & Henderson,P. Developing and Managing Your School Guidance Program(Alexandria, V.A. : American Association for Counseling and Development, 1988). Schmidt, J.J. “A Professional Stance for Positive Discipline – Promoting Learning, “NASSP Bulletin, 73 (516) (1989), 14-20. Schmidt, J.J. A Survival Guide for the Elementary/Middle School Counselor (New York: The Center for Applied Research in Education, 1991)

STAFF RELATIONSHIPS: “Belonging to”