PED3155 - Educators, Unite!

Hello readers,

For this week, we were asked to examine the roles of guidance counsellors and vice principals in regard to how they tie into our practices as teachers. One of the biggest tasks that teachers have to face in our classrooms is managing many things – behaviours, student learning, and student success. We, as teachers, are not alone in this task. One of the biggest benefits provided to us is that we have a professional community in each of our schools comprising of other teachers, guidance counsellors, and principals. As they are all trained professionals, they are capable of helping out a teacher and student both when situations become abnormal.

Guidance counsellors act as our liaison for student success. When students encounter difficult situations, it is important that the teacher reminds themselves that they are not the student’s therapist. Instead, teachers are capable of referring the student to guidance, where they will receive proper resources and support that they need. Guidance counsellors are also responsible for helping students with career planning by giving vital information for post-secondary studies and working their schedules so that they meet the program requirements. Additionally, as guidance counsellors are often privy to information that teachers may not receive, it is important to maintain a forum of communication in such that a teacher can be better aware of how to serve their students better. Finally, should a teacher wish to provide extra teaching opportunities (such as assemblies, field trips, or the likes), the guidance counsellor is vital to see it happen.

Vice principals are, on the other hand, are a plethora of knowledge when it comes to developing teaching strategies and implementing new initiatives in and around the classroom. Vice principals are often in charge of keeping and recording student success data as well, meaning that any teacher who wishes to improve on their practices using student success data would be wise to turn to their VP. Vice principals are also a member of the disciplinary team; should a situation arise that requires additional support, the VP is the person that the teacher turns to in order to make sure that the proper steps are taken and that both admin and teacher input is made towards a “game plan”. Where one would consult a vice principal over a guidance counsellor first is in the types of situations that involve classroom initiatives and addressing pedagogy.

In my future practice, I don’t quite yet see myself becoming a guidance counselor or a vice principal just yet. My main love for the profession comes from the interactions and guidance that I can offer in the classroom, both in terms of modeling behaviours and imparting content knowledge. As such, I might just have to wait a few years down the line to re-assess my goals, and whether or not they involve different roles in the school!

Image credit: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/counseling/what-is-a-guidance-counselor/

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