1. WHO THE COUNSELOR IS NOT

2. Mrs. Brinkley is a third grade teacher at a school far from here. She has a class much like yours. One day, she told her students, “You will visit the school counselor in her classroom next Monday.”

3. “Hooray!” shouted the students. At least all of the students but Michael shouted. Michael asked, “Who is the Counselor?” Taneisha answered, “You will have to wait and see, but it is someone who cares a lot about you and about me!”

4. “Oh, is it the lady in the front who gives me band aides when I get hurt?” Asked Michael. “No, I don’t think so. That is our school nurse, Mrs. Hollie.” answered Taneisha.

5. “ Well, then,” thought Michael, “how about the person who runs the school?” “I don’t think so,” commented Taneisha. “That’s the principal. She is so busy, it’s hard to get a picture of her.”

6. “I’ve got it now,” said Michael. “It’s the person your mom talks to when she calls the school. You know, the person who answers the phones and talks to people all day long.” “No, no! Taneisha said in exasperation. “That’s the secretary, Ms. Walker!”

7. “Wait, I know!” shouted Michael. “It’s the lady that I pay my fees. She always smiles at me, so I know she cares about me.” “No, not her. And yes she does care about us. But she is our Bookkeeper, Mrs. Deb. She takes care of the school’s money.” said Taneisha.

8. “Well, there aren’t many people left, so it must be one of the people who sweeps the halls and repairs all the broken things here.” said Michael. “I don’t think so,” replied Taneisha. “That would be the custodians Mr. Sam and Mr. Henderson”

9. “Ha! I have it! It’s the lady that reads to us in the library.” exclaimed Michael. “For the last time, NO!” shouted Taneisha. “That’s the librarian, Mrs. McCain.”

10. “Okay, Okay. If you know so much, you tell me. Who is the school counselor?” asked Michael. “Well if you really want to know,” sighed Taneisha, “the school counselor is a person with a great big smile, who will sit down and talk with you awhile. This person helps you when you are sad, or even when you are really mad. Who is the school counselor? It is the person reading this to you. And the counselor wants to be a friend to all of you.”