Counselor: Mrs. Rachel Vardeman
Background:
I have been working at Banquete ISD since January of 1996. I began here as a middle school teacher of Language Arts. I then taught at the elementary as a second grade teacher and as a fifth grade teacher. I was the elementary counselor for two years before coming here. This is my first year as the junior high counselor.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdiciplinary Studies and Master of Science degree in Counseling. I was certified by the State Board of Educator Certification in 1995 for teaching and in 2001 for school counseling.
State Law and Policy regarding school counselors:
The law TEC 33.003-33.007 specifies the duties of counselors and outlines components of the guidance program. It also specifies that school counselors should be certified by the state.
The school counselor’s job is to:
Work with the school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement, and evaluate a developmental guidance and counseling program. The counselor shall design the program to include:
· Guidance Curriculum—At BJH the guidance curriculum involves monthly guidance sessions covering the following topics for the following grades:
6th Grade: Responsibility and Respect, Sexual Harassment, Study Skills, Drug Awareness, Leaning Relationship Skills, Careers, Friendship, Test-Taking Skills, Pre-registration, Valuing Diversity Career Day
7th Grade: Responsibility, Sexual Harassment, Enhancing Self-Esteem, Drug-Awareness, Resolving Conflict, Job O Inventory , Respecting Others, Pre-registration, Reasoning and Risk,Career Day
8th Grade: Efficient Time Management, Sexual Harassment, Goal Setting, Drug Awareness, Explore Registration, Conflict Resolution, Explore Results – Interest Inventory, Respect and You, Test-Taking Skills, This is college, Why college? Preparing and Paying for College
Career Day, Trip to A&M – C.C. and Del Mar College
Individual Planning:
· Provide students assistance with educational planning and career exploration.
· Coordinate the standardized testing program and interpret test results to students, parent and teacher.
· Study Skills
· Assignment Notebooks
· Interest Inventory (Job O, Explore)
· Pre-registration for next year.
· Awareness
· TAKS TALK
· EXPLORE Results (8th)
· Job Shadowing
· Cover Career Options with students with inventory
· Career Day
· 8th grade trip to A&M – Corpus Christ and Del Mar College
· Development of healthy self-concepts through individual visits
· Academic Counseling
Responsive Services:
All grades---
· Meet with students regarding grades; attendance; tardiness
· Misbehavior
· Teen Leadership
· PSI
· Red Ribbon Week
· Youth Leadership Conference
· School Avoidance
· Drop-out prevention
· Provide counseling services to individuals and group of students as a result of student, teacher, parent and/or administrator concerns, or for crisis response.
· Consult with teachers, parents, and administrators regarding student concerns and needs.
· Educate parents and teacher on topics related to student success, developmental needs and educational plans.
· Provide intervention in areas of substance abuse.
Individual planning--
· Development of healthy self-concepts
· Development of adaptive and adjustive social behavior
System Support:
· Meet with other counselors
· Workshops
· Counselor’s Conference
· Parents Meeting regarding higher education
· Extended Day Parent Meetings (2)
· Inservice
· TAKS Training (Teacher training)
· DEIC Co-Chairman and Member
· Look for community members for Career Day or for Job Shadowing
· Master Schedule and scheduling
· LPAC meeting
· 504 reviews
· Testing Coordinator
· J.H. 504 Coordinator
· J.H. ESL Coordinator
· District G/T Coordinator
· Special Education Referrals and TAT Screening, Attending ARDS, Counseling students.