The school counselors in the Ogdensburg City School District provide assistance to students, parents, teachers, school administrators and various community programs as well as institutions of higher education. Counselors are always available to meet with students individually, in groups, or in the classrooms.
The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive counseling program to all students (Special Education included) in grades UPK-12 in the areas of Academic Planning, Career Planning and Personal Planning. The most important component of counseling is the trusting relationship between the student and their counselor. The three most widely used processes are counseling, consulting and coordinating.
Counseling is focused on solving problems, making decisions and discovering personal meaning within the student-counselor relationship. Consultation is a cooperative process in which the counselors work with parents, teachers and staff in an effort to work more effectively with students based on their specific needs. Coordination is a leadership process in which the counselor manages various services that benefit students, while frequently serving as a liaison between school and community agencies.
As an educator, the counselor helps students better understand themselves and the world in which they live. Together the student and their counselor will:
- Sort out thoughts and ideas
- Discuss their needs, feelings, and concerns
- Explore alternatives
- Make informed decisions
The main goal of the school counselor is to encourage all students to feel comfortable and confident in order to ensure success in all areas. To that end, the school counselor plays a highly visible and critical role in their school life.