1. Principal & Counselor: Partners in Success
School Counselor: Frank Phinney, M.Ed., LPC
Principal: Dana Nolan, Ph.D.
Walker Freshman High School

2. Partners in Success ASCA National Model:
Professional School Counselors (PSC) collaborate with many stakeholders to ensure a quality school counseling program.
Administrators provide support for the organization, development and implementation… encourage counselor and teacher cooperation… recognizes importance of [each participant’s] role in implementing the school counseling program.

3. Partners in Success
Emphasis on student achievement challenges the notion that principal's are the sole leader in a school (Janson, 2008).
Janson (2008) also noted additional research that indicated that a leadership model that empowers and utilizes the skills and knowledge of all professionals on a school campus serves as a catalyst to improve student achievement (Halverson, 2003; Leithwood, Seashore Louis, Anderson, Wahlstrom, 2005)

4. Partners in Success
Chata & Loesch (2007) indicated that research reveals the effectiveness of a school counseling program is largely determined by the principal's provision of support.
This serves as the basis for ASCA recommendation of principals and PSCs working as a team toward the common goal of assisting students’ in all areas where they may need assistance (Chata & Loesch, 2007).

5. Partners in Success: Potential Barriers
Mallory & Jackson (2007) indicate some potential barriers as follows:
Training: before ASCA…
Inappropriate duties: lack of understanding of professional competencies of PSCs
Perception: Communication is necessary

6. Partners in Success: Breaking Barriers
Self-Advocacy
Adherence to Professional Standards
Contribute to School Environment
PSCs must learn how to discuss student development and provide data to support their assertions (Hardesty & Dillard, 1994).

7. Partners in Success: Top Ten
At Walker Freshman High School we have gone to great lengths to ensure the PSC is directly involved in a leadership role and a collaborative partnership with the administrative team.
School Counselor Magazine (Nov/Dec 2006), Covington & Grant provided a Top Ten List of why PSCs should be involved in leadership activities.

8. Partners in Success: WFHS Top Ten
Visibility
“Presence” is Fundamental
Teachers, students and parents have to see you as leader
Availability
Counselor as advisor rather than chairperson
Engage in efforts directly related to student achievement

9. Partners in Success: WFHS Top Ten
Extension of Leadership Team
Shared Philosophy and Passion = Buy-In for Entire school!
PSCs when in partnership with Administration can have dramatic impact
Knows the Trends
Front Lines – knows student perceptions
Communicates to administration student concerns
Assists new teachers with effective strategies

10. Partners in Success: WFHS Top Ten
Big Picture Perspective
Solution-Focused approach to problem solving
“Changing Climate” partnership ensures we assist our students & their families access resources
Decision-Making Skills
Assimilate information, process information and make decisions on the data
Data-Driven decision-making – influence school policy, learning strategies, etc.

11. Partners in Success: WFHS Top Ten
People Skills
Inherent in who we are as counselors: communicators and listeners
Principals are bombarded with information and request to see them… serve as first line of defense!
Coordination and Follow-Up Skills
Do this every day for our students…
Apply these skills globally: school improvement plans and presenting data to stakeholders

12. Partners in Success: WFHS Top Ten
Leadership Skills
PSCs by position are seen as leaders within the school and community
Utilize this to develop and nurture other leaders
Principals Need Our Help
Roles and Expectations are ever-changing
Principals need leaders willing to step to the task… Gone are the days of the “Counselor in a Closet!”

13. Partners in Success
Contact Information
Frank Phinney, M.Ed., LPC
Dana Nolan, Ph.D.
Walker Freshman High School
13443 Burgess Avenue
Walker, Louisiana 70785