MCS Guidance Counselors Care for Students K-12

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central school guidance counselors do more than just students find colleges or careers, MSC school board members were told last week.

Stella Ritter, the district Director of Pupil Personnel Services, outlined the district's counseling plan from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Counselors, she said, have two jobs, advocacy, for both staff and students, and teaching. In elementary school, teaching involves social and emotional lessons in the classrooms. In secondary school, the curriculum and emphasis shifts to planning and supporting students for college and careers.

Counselors are using data to aid them and students all the time, she added.

Another strength of MCS guidance counselors is that they are good at counseling parents and outside agencies, Ms. Ritter said.

MCS counselors, she added, like to share their time with students.

"It's all about the students. That's the focus."

The MCS guidance counselors, she noted, work during the summer and are ready for the students on the first day of school.