AGENDA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION - real facts omsd

Public Comments: Rules Governing Educator Licensure – July - September 2012 (Second Public Comment Period)
September 13, 2012
Angelia Crouse
This comment is in direct concern of licensure of Clinical Counselors as School Counselors. Though a
possible option to fulfill an area of demand, the result would be less qualified individuals meeting the
EDUCATIONAL needs of our students. As with current licensure requirements, SCHOOL Counselors
have the experience and knowledge in which to draw in critical moments of student/parent/teacher
interactions pertaining to personal, social, career, and academic areas. Without proper training to
understand the daily demands of an educational setting, Clinical Counselors are at a distinct disadvantage
and students will suffer for lack of knowledge and experience. SCHOOL Counselors understand not only
classroom needs, but the students' and parents' perspectives in this area as well. School Counselors have
been experienced in working with large groups of students and are prepared to consult with teachers and
others in this regard. Guidance classes are currently taught by individuals who have met all the
requirements of being a certified classroom instructor. Classroom management, behavior intervention,
effective teaching, student/teacher/parent interaction, to name only a few, are much more effectively
obtained by SCHOOL Counselors who have been there, done it, and have gained the wisdom to help
others. Clinical counselors have a process of working with individual students and some small groups
relative to the treatment plan for a particular student's diagnosable condition by way of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders. Not every child a SCHOOL counselor sees needs a
diagnosis or treatment plan for that matter. The majority of students need someone trained in an
educational setting to help them over rough spots, to make it through their situation whether it be social,
personal, academic, or career. Some students need more, that is why a referral to a mental health provider
may be necessary to help the student and family in extinuating circumstances be it medical or otherwise
outside the school. If the Department sees it as necessary to allow schools to employ LPCs as School
Counselors; it is only right to all involved, especially students, that these individuals meet certain
additional requirements before being allowed to practice in an educational setting. On an additional note,
where is reciprocity for School Counselors? School Counselors could not walk in and fill Clinical
positions without the proper classes and supervision rendered. Clinical Counselors must obtain certain
hours of supervision with client diagnosible issues. How can that type of supervision circumvent
internship within a public school classroom for a year followed by two years of teaching experience? Not
to include all the college classes regarding methods, practice, techniques, and procedures that build upon
the knowledge base to lead and advise students, parent s, teachers, and administators relative to the
educational setting. The answer is simple. It can't. I am not against Clinical Counselors becoming School
Counselors, but when it comes to who is watching our kids, the person with the greater experience in
education will be of most value. It is only right to properly prepare Clinical Counselors prior to their
transition.
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