The Oak Park Counseling Department

Assignment(s)	Names	Addresses
College & Career Center	Jean Hawkins	jhawkins@oakparkusd.org
Freshman Counselor	Janet Svoboda	jsvoboda@oakparkusd.org
Grade 10-12 Counselors (by alpha)
(A - Gg) (Gh - Nh) (Ni - Z)	Julie Heeney Debi Fries Randy McLelland	jheeney@oakparkusd.org dfries@oakparkusd.org rmclelland@oakparkusd.org

THE OPUSD COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the Oak Park Unified School District Counseling Department is to provide a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student learning through three broad and interrelated areas of student development. Each of these areas of student development encompass a variety of desired student learning competencies, which in turn are comprised of specific knowledge, attitudes and skills. The foundation of a developmental school counseling program includes:

Academic development
Career development
Personal/social development

Comprehensive school counseling and guidance programs are an integral part of the total educational program. California Education Code 49600 defines educational counseling as “specialized services provided by a school counselor possessing a valid credential with a specialization in pupil services.” Counselors serve a vital role in ensuring that all students become successful learners. All students benefit from school counseling and guidance programs that are developmental in nature, preventive in design and comprehensive in scope.

A comprehensive, effective, results-based school counseling program includes:
Measurable student competencies
A team effort of parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, and other support staff; school, home, and community collaboration
Program accountability and evaluation
On-going training and professional development for school counselors
A program aligned with the National Standards for School Counseling Programs

A comprehensive, effective, results-based school counseling program includes the following services:

Group counseling services
Individual counseling services
Result-based guidance curriculum
Consultation with parents and teachers
Collaboration with community resources

We support the California State Board of Education whose policy states “ . . . all students attending public schools in California are entitled to receive the benefits of effective guidance and counseling programs and services designed to meet their educational, academic, career, vocational, personal and social needs at all levels of development.”

DEFINITION OF THE OPUSD K-12 SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

The OPUSD K-12 school counseling program is comprehensive, developmental and systematic in nature, sequential, clearly defined and accountable. The program is integral to the educational process, proactive and preventive in its focus. It employs strategies to enhance academics, provide career awareness, develop employment readiness, encourage self-awareness, foster interpersonal communication skills and impart life success skills for all students.

Is similar to other educational programs, inclusive of curriculum, standards and assessments.
Is developed by design, focusing on needs, interests and issues related to the various stages of student growth.
Promotes more effective and efficient student learning.
Expresses a commitment to individual uniqueness and maximum development.
Is integral to school planning, school programs and the school environment.

The School Counselor:

Is a trained, credentialed professional.
Is not the school counseling program.
Is part of a collaborative team.
Is recognized as an indispensable partner of the instructional staff in the development of good citizens and leaders.
Facilitates communication and establishes linkages for the benefit of students, with teaching staff, administration, families, student service personnel, agencies, business and other members of the community.

Our educational system is being challenged by the growing needs of today’s students and the rising expectations of society. Some of our children attend school with emotional, physical and interpersonal barriers to learning as a result of societal and other factors. However, all students require systematic support for their development. Therefore, in a comprehensive school counseling program, less emphasis is placed on crisis-oriented services. The emphasis is on development for all students. An effective school counseling program begins when students enter the school system and continues as they progress thought the educational process. School counseling is an integral part of the total educational enterprise.

The primary goal of the K-12 school counseling program is to promote and enhance student learning. Recognizing that all children do not develop in a linear fashion according to a certain timetable, there is intentional overlapping among grade levels (elementary, middle school and high school). The OPUSD school counseling program reflects the progression of student development throughout the K-12 experience. It is understood that mastery of basic skills facilitates the mastery of higher-order skills in each area of development. Our counselors utilize a variety of strategies, activities, delivery methods and resources to promote student development. Our school counselors’ responsibilities include the design, organization, implementation and coordination of the program.