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District counselors present K–12 roles, partnerships and programming to school board
Summary
Elementary, middle and high school counselor leads outlined K–12 counseling functions, attendance work, partnerships with community agencies and tools such as WorkKeys, ASVAB and ACT; board members applauded counselors’ role in student support.
Joplin Schools’ counselor leads presented to the board on the district’s K–12 counseling program, explaining how counselors support academics, social-emotional growth, attendance and postsecondary planning.
Doctor Cicada introduced the three counselor leads: Janelle Harding, who represents elementary counselors; Julia Narrow, who represents middle school counselors; and Jennifer Hancock, who represents high school counseling. Each speaker described the typical scope of work at their level.
Janelle Harding told the board that elementary counselors focus on early intervention, social skills, academic support, crisis response and mental-health strengthening; counselors provide classroom lessons, small groups and one-on-one sessions. Julia Narrow described middle-school counseling as centered on effective communication with students, families and staff, addressing anxiety and disengagement, partnering with parents to solve attendance and routine issues, and coordinating with social workers, nurses and resource officers. Jennifer Hancock said high-school counselors concentrate on academic planning, college and scholarship applications, career exploration, short-term solution-focused counseling and linking students to sustained mental-health services when needed. Counselors noted specific tools and programs used districtwide, including WorkKeys (ACT-sponsored), the ASVAB, ACT testing, the Career Academy and partnerships with FFA, DECA, FBLA and SkillsUSA.
The counselors also recognized community partners that support students’ basic needs and mental-health services and praised ParentSquare for family communications. The presentation mentioned the Joplin Schools counselor advisory (with Mr. Weaver serving as the board representative) as a biannual forum for counselors to report needs and priorities to the board.
Board members thanked the counselors and highlighted their central role in district work.
