Dear Editor,

National School Counseling Week 2013, “School Counseling: Liberty and Learning for All,” will be celebrated from Feb. 4-8, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within America’s school systems and how students are different as a results of what school counselors do.

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

This special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs that are vital to the educational process for preparing pupils to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

School counselors in the Selma City Schools are commended for being actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development; for working with teachers and other educators to help students explore their potential and set realistic goals for themselves and others; and for guiding students to complete the course requirements for their chosen career path at the high school level.

According to Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed. D., American School Counselor Association executive director, “School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, personal/social skills and career awareness in post-secondary options.

Selma City Schools’ counselors are among the nation’s 30,000 school counselors who will be participating in this week’s activities.

They are Debra Williams, Felicia Coleman, Keisha Chestnut, Leslie Bennett King, Cheryl Randolph, Kesia Smith, Faye Green, Karen Johnson Richards, Wanda Young-Lowe, and the Coordinator of Counselors, Mamie Williams Solomon. Each is a professional educator.

We are extremely proud of them and their work ethic.  School counselors are an integral component of the success of students, and the local school district.

 

Gerald Shirley

Superintendent, Selma City Schools