‘Helping students thrive’ - National School Counseling Week Feb. 3-7

(Editor’s Note: Kevin Dulaney is also the supervisor for school counseling. He was asked by the Journal-Record to contribute a guest column regarding National School Counseling Week. We are grateful to him for doing so and for all the amazing work done by our school counselors!)

The definition of thrive is grow or develop well or vigorously and to prosper or flourish. Instead of a listing of the job titles or hats that school counselors wear to define what they do, it would be more fitting to look at the many ways they help students thrive.
Marion County Schools have over 3,200 students attending schools in five communities. I think it is more important to look at our system of schools as the five communities rather than the separate schools themselves. By doing so, it is easier to see how counselors help their students thrive.
First, Marion County’s school counselors work to help students thrive by helping our school system as a whole. They spend countless hours in training yearly to stay in compliance with federal, state and local guidelines.
Their roles include Section 504 Coordinators, Local Homeless Liaisons, School Test Coordinators for State Assessments and Crisis Management Leaders. Other tasks include student cumulative folders and transcripts. Although all of these are an essential part of educating children and making sure they are successful in school, I would rank this as number three out of three when it comes to what counselors do to help students thrive.
I had mentioned that the five communities seem to be the most appropriate way to view our system of schools. School counselors’ jobs are not confined to the buildings themselves. Our counselors not only know their students, but they also know most of the families. By helping students thrive, they are naturally an advocate for their students.
Counselors often communicate with families regarding various school-related topics. Parents and students alike often see the counselor as the link between home and school. Throughout the years, the school counselor becomes the trusted friend of both parents and students. Even though being the link between the community and school is important, this is not the most important job.
Lastly, if you go back to the definition of thrive, the school counselor’s most important task is not what they do at the system level or community level. The magic of school counselors happens at the school. But to be more specific, it happens at the individual student level.
They work tirelessly to make sure that each individual student grows, develops, prospers and flourishes. This is true for students they have known a day, year or all of their lives. I used the word magic because they possess a unique talent.  Their job requires them to overlook the shortcomings of their students, guide them when they go astray and be stern enough to get them back on track. If you had to give only one name to that magic talent, it would be heart.
I became counseling coordinator/supervisor around six years ago. I do not have a background in school counseling, so I have come to have a much deeper appreciation of what our school counselors do each day to promote our system, communities and students. Included is the National School Counseling Week Proclamation that was approved by the Marion County Board of Education and signed by our superintendent, Dr. Patrick Sutton.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve as counseling supervisor and would like to recognize our school counselors:
• Brilliant School – Lisa McCaleb;
• Guin Elementary School – Jessica Scott;
• Marion County High School – Alana Hawkins;
• Hackleburg Elementary School – Halie Hagood;
• Hackleburg High School – Raven Wilburn;
• Hamilton Elementary School – Erica Salter;
• Hamilton Middle School – Allyson Frederick;
• Hamilton High School – Julie Kladke;
• Phillips Elementary – Jonathan Tuck; and
• Phillips High School – Monica Allen.