School Counseling
Licensed School Counselors are uniquely qualified to address all students’ academic, career and social/emotional development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success.
School Counselor Role in the Schools
- Collaborate with school administrators throughout the school year to create a program action plan through yearly counselor/principal agreement.
- Deliver comprehensive school counseling program that supports students' developmental needs in academic, social/emotional, and career domains.
- Implement guidance curriculum through structured classroom lessons and small group sessions. Curriculum focus may include:
- Academic Success Skills
- Problem Solving & Conflict Management
- Emotional Management & Self-Regulation
- Bully Prevention
- Career Exploration
- Educational & Life Transitions
- Facilitate student planning through the development of academic and career plans that reflect individualized learning styles & interests.
- Implement responsive services through individual and small group counseling, and consultation.
- Assist students in accessing information and support with tasks that prepare them for post-secondary education and career options.
- Participate in site based multidisciplinary teams that support student achievement and identify individual student learning needs.
Registration Information for Incoming 6th and 9th Grade Students
Personal Learning Plan
All SPPS students, create a Personal Learning Plan (PLP). The PLP gives students opportunities to identify their strengths, skills and interests and connect them to careers that may interest them.
Elementary School Counseling
School counselors support all students in academic success, social emotional development and college and career readiness.
Middle School Counseling
School counselors support all middle school students in academic success, social emotional development and college and career readiness.
High School Counseling
Dual Credit Options
Dual Credit refers to all courses that allow students to earn high school and college credit while the student is in high school.
Rigorous Course Waivers
Students taking courses designated as “rigorous” by Saint Paul Public Schools (e.g. AP, IB, College in the Schools, Concurrent Enrollment, and PSEO) are eligible to waive related graduation standards.
Scholarships
The Office of College and Career Readiness manages several privately funded scholarships.
Transcript Requests
Transcripts are issued through the Student Placement Center. If you have completed course work (seat based or online) and need to have your transcript sent to a Non-SPPS school for high school credit, please follow the instructions on the following link.
Learn more about SPPS Counselors
- School Counselor Leadership Vision Statement
- School Counselor Leadership Mission Statement
- License(s) and Education
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
School Counselor Leadership Vision Statement
School Counselor Leadership Mission Statement
License(s) and Education
American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
Prospective Employees and Internships
SPPS School Counselors are:
- Educators who stand in the gap for students and families
- Authentically committed to urban education
- Leaders in their buildings, district, state, and nation
- Change agents
- Anti-racist activists and warriors for equity
- Collaborators and supporters - both professionally and personally
- Driven by data, research, and promising practices
- Creators of ASCA-aligned comprehensive school counseling programs
If this sounds like the school counseling work you want to do, learn more on how to apply.