The certificated members of the Student Support Personnel Team (SSPT) at WHS are led by the Principal and the Assistant Principal who are responsible for guidance, curriculum development, student services, discipline, campus safety, facilities and technology, attendance, assessment, public relations and teacher evaluation. The SSPT includes a committee consisting of Grade Level Advisors, Associated Student Body (ASB) Director, Career Center Director, College Specialist, and Library Media Technician. The team meets to asses the needs of the students, create and implement student programs, and evaluate program results to make necessary improvements.
Grade Level Advisors (GLA) are teachers on special assignments who serve as the academic, social/ personal, and career advisors of students. The GLA, implemented in 2001, replaced Guidance Administrators who served students based on last name alphabetically and had an appointment-only policy. To make student service approachable and direct, GLAs have an open door policy where students may walk in to speak to their designated GLA, who remains as their advisor for the six years that the students attend the school. In addition the GLAs focus on delivering presentations in classes and evening parent meetings, and yearly revisiting the student’s comprehensive academic plan and goals. They attend regional and national conferences to stay current on college admissions and counseling services and issues. The Career Center Director recruits and organizes weekly career speakers, presents interview, business etiquette, and job application workshops, and manages the internship program and class. With GLAs and teachers, she created grade level career benchmarks and appropriate activities. The College Specialist coordinates with college admissions representatives, alumni, and others to schedule college nights, college presentations (during the school day and in the evenings). The Connection Center is a resource center open to all students to help them learn about colleges, financial aid, scholarships, job opportunities and careers. The classified members include secretaries, attendance clerk, student intervention specialists, bookkeeper, and library media technician; they assist with new student orientation, work permits, updating records and organizing college fairs. The team however does not only fulfill specified listed roles. All staff, certificated and classified, serve as mentors, and the majority of the staff (40 out of 60) advise campus clubs and coach after-school sports. The registered nurse maintains student health records, screens for limited testing, and provides limited direct service to students. The Speech Therapist treats students with identified communication disorders.
Following the National Standards for School Counseling Program from the American School Counselor Association, the GLAs have created Academic and Social/Personal Standards for all students in grades 7th through 12th.
|
|
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Copyright © Whitney High School 2005