Superintendent’s Corner Column

New Guidance Office Resources Assigned for Student Success

            Our Secondary Schools of National Prominence (SSNP) initiative continues to evolve. The School Board is continuing to commit new resources to insure that our students have the best counseling possible when they, and their parents, begin to design the educational plan that will inform their futures.

            As you might have heard me say in the past, SSNP may be this district’s most important initiative to impact student achievement during the next decade. We want our students to be successful in their adult career endeavors. In order for this to occur, districts like ours need to better prepare students to meet the future demands that will be placed on them.

            At the April 24 meeting, the School Board took another step on the road to SSNP success by approving $1.4 million for 32 additional guidance office staff to be added in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years. Next year, each 7-8 middle school and 7-12 high school will add a position to their counseling departments titled Guidance Services Professional which is designed to maximize direct counselor-student-family contact. The new position takes counseling support duties traditionally assigned to counselors and places them with the Guidance Services Professional who will coordinate and organize those duties. Meanwhile, a Data Entry Clerk position will be added to each of these guidance departments as well. These clerks will play an important support role in facilitating the counseling process. The 9-12 high schools will add Guidance Services Professionals and Data Entry Clerks in the 2008-09 academic year.

            Brevard’s goal is that every student will graduate from high school prepared to enter and be successful in the workplace, in further career education, or in postsecondary degree opportunities. Employing additional guidance office staff is the key to insuring that all students and their parents or guardians develop an Individualized Plan of Study between June and October 15 annually, as designed under the SSNP initiative. Having adequate staff available to answer questions, develop customized solutions to individual situations, and otherwise organize the counseling process is integral to students having a successful experience. This program is predicated on developing a course of study that matches student interest, and is reviewed and revised annually through face-to-face meetings throughout the secondary school years.

            SSNP will propel our students to new heights of success, and adding adequate counseling staff is an important component to securing that success. There are valuable SSNP resources on the District Web page at www.brevard.k12.fl.us. Please review these materials, and let us know if you have questions. Efforts like SSNP are at the core of our commitment, “leading a generation to first in the nation.”