Supporting the Whole Student
Comprehensive and engaging student support services are vitally important for the academic, college, career and social emotional development and growth of students.
Student Support Services Professionals work with classroom teachers, parents, administrators and ESPs to provide multi-tiered domain interventions such as classroom lessons, small group counseling, individual counseling and crisis counseling. They also provide consultation, collaboration and resources that aid in the development of learning for all students, which includes school climates that are conducive to student safety, social, emotional well-being and intellectual support of academic and career goals.
Student Support Services Professionals can include instructional facilitators, library media specialists, school counselors, licensed professional clinical counselors, nurses, school psychologists, social workers and speech pathologists.
What is the Role of Student Support Service Professionals?
Quality student support services foster positive relationships among educators and students, and help increase a students’ attachment to school. They also serve as additional positive adult role models, which is an important link between students, their families, school resources and community-based health and social services.
CTA believes that students’ social-emotional needs must be addressed before effective teaching and learning can take place. When implementing site-level approaches to student discipline or the development of social competencies, CTA believes that it is crucial to involve teachers and credentialed support staff such as counselors, psychologists, nurses and social workers in the development and implementation of such programs.
Student Support Services Committee
The Student Support Services Committee studies and recommends policies and procedures for consideration by CTA governance bodies in the following areas: school counseling and guidance, nursing/health services, speech pathology, psychology, social work, library services, and welfare and attendance services.
Pupil Support Services Team
CTA believes all school districts should have at least one Pupil Support Service Team. This team should be composed of a school nurse, a psychologist, a credentialed counselor, a social worker, a speech therapist, a welfare attendance worker and an audiologist. The team would ensure equal access to academic and support services for all students in order to provide a comprehensive delivery of services and develop programs and strategies that address school climate issues.
