A Matter of Difference: When School Leaders' Expectations Don't Match School Counselors' Practices and Preferences

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Forms of Collaboration Among Educators

Abstract

School counselors, sometimes referred to as the “heartbeat” of a school, describe working conditions that undermine their ability to meet students’ academic, social emotional and postsecondary needs. In addition to high caseloads, poorly defined roles, and limited professional development, school counselors report that principals lack a clear understanding of counselors’ role and hold expectations that are not aligned with professional models (Cervoni & DeLucia-Waack, 2011). Drawing on organizational and leadership theories that contend that a lack of job clarity and poorly developed working relationships undermine professionals’ performance, this study investigates alignment between counselor and school administrator expectations with the aim of creating tighter professional alignment and ultimately, improving principals’ ability to support effective counseling programs. 

Authors

• Mandy Savitz-Romer, Harvard University

• Tara Patricia Nicola, Harvard University

• Danielle Duarte, Harvard University

• Laura Hecht, Harvard University