The vital role of America’s school counselors

While many outside of America’s public schools may not be aware, this week, February 3-7, marks National School Counseling Week. As a higher education professional, and as a parent, this week serves as an opportunity to recognize the incredible impact that school counselors make on students, families, and communities – especially for neurodivergent students with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism – whom we exclusively serve at Landmark College on our Putney, Vermont campus, online, and through our Bay Area Success Center in California. Beyond celebrating the profession, however, it’s also a reminder that we as parents, citizens, and fellow education professionals have an obligation to speak up and advocate for the critically important work our school counselors perform, often under adverse conditions and unsustainable caseloads.

Appropriately, the theme for this year’s National School Counseling Week is “School Counselors: Helping Students Thrive.” At Landmark, we see the product of exactly that every day. School counselors play an essential role in helping neurodivergent students to identify and build upon their strengths as learners and communicators. We know at Landmark that taking a strengths-based approach is essential to help neurodivergent students develop self-advocacy skills that college, employers, and adulthood will require of them, regardless of the exact path they take. While there are a range of post-secondary paths for each student – neurodivergent or neurotypical – as admissions professionals, we see the dedication and personalization required of counselors when it comes to determining whether a student would be the right fit for Landmark College.

But to help every student thrive, we must do more to support school counselors. Today’s students face multiple crises that are upending public K-12 and higher education alike – from Covid learning loss and school closures to the rise of social media and the subsequent rise in adolescent mental health challenges – and yet school counselors are often underpaid and overworked. The American School Counselors Association reports that, today, the average school counselor manages a caseload of 385 students, a whopping 54% higher than what is considered the appropriate ratio of 250:1. Just two out of 50 states – Vermont and New Hampshire – have a ratio of below 250:1.  

On a personal level, I am fortunate to live and work in both of those states – and I see the impact of appropriate counselor staffing ratios as a parent. While my son is only seven years old, he has already developed a crucial relationship with his school counselor, Becky Kohler, at Chesterfield Central School. Ms. Kohler has quickly become a trusted friend of and advocate for our child, helping him to develop successful traits as a student, and helping us as parents to better support him in home-to-school transitions and vice versa. Every parent, and every child, deserves this sort of individualized and caring attention – and it will save our education system costs over the long-term. But to make that a reality, we need to do more to recruit and retain high-quality school counselors in every school district so that staffing ratios can reach best-practice levels.

In addition to our continued advocacy for the counseling profession, Landmark College is proud to offer a number of resources that we would encourage counselors, special educators, parents, and students themselves to utilize. Examples range from information and learning modules for parents with a neurodivergent child on our family resource hub to resources for students from our Success Center, and professional development for educators through our Landmark College Institute for Research and Training. At Landmark College we know that most of our students would not be here without a school counselor who supported them. This National School Counseling Week, and always, we’re proud to support the school counselors shaping the lives of our students, and other children nationwide.

Michael Stefanowicz, M.Ed. serves as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Landmark College, leading admissions and financial aid strategies for the Putney, VT campus and online programs.  Mike presents at national and regional conferences on a range of topics including neurodivergent student success in the college search, secondary school curriculum, and enrollment and marketing strategies.  Mike and his wife, Nicole, live in southwestern New Hampshire with their first-grader, Patrick; preschooler, Calliope; and Landmark College certified therapy dog, Waffle.

Final Blog from The College Solution (Lynn O’Shaughnessy)

A few times over the years I have featured blogs from Lynn O’Shaughnessy. She was the founder and owner of the College Solution which helped students find the right college for them by working with them and their families. Her blogs were great and recently she sent out the below note letting her readers know she was closing up shop. She sent one final post which had some great information. I’ve shared that here and wanted to thank her for all those years of putting out fantastic information for students, their parents and of course for Counselors. Here is her final farewell and blog. Enjoy!

I’m closing up shop at The College Solution, but I’m not going to leave you empty-handed.    You may have noticed that I stopped sending out my newsletter awhile ago. I simply lost interest and became passionate about other things.   Since it would be lame to simply say goodbye (and of no use to anyone), I’m leaving you with some relevant tips to find your own college solution!

No. 1. Check out College ROI

Families often fixate on the brand names of colleges rather than other factors such as what a major’s return on investment (ROI) will be at a specific school. It’s untrue that getting into a prestigious institution will guarantee an enviable lifetime of earnings no matter the major.   At the University of Chicago, for instance, an economics degree holder enjoys a lifetime ROI of $3.6 million versus an English literature major who earns a NEGATIVE $197,000!   Wide ROI variations not only exist within any university, but also across institutions for any major whether it’s biology, business administration, psychology or something else.   You can track ROI figures for tens of thousands of degrees via an invaluable tool from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. Below is a sampling of undergraduate ROIs for San Diego State University, which is about a five-minute drive from my house.   Salaries aren’t everything when picking a college, but they are worth checking out.

No. 2. Make the most out of those four years

Getting into college isn’t that hard, but what is challenging is exploiting all the amazing resources and opportunities that a college offers.   Research from Gallup/Purdue shows that what you do in college, including finding a mentor, studying abroad and getting involved in extracurriculars, is hugely influential in whether you ultimately end up living a fulfilling and happy life and career.   I started writing posts for The College Solution in 2008 and one of my all-time favorites was about my daughter Caitlin Bigelow’s uncanny ability to squeeze every last drop out of her liberal arts education. Caitlin, who is now the global marketing director of an international modular construction company, did what Gallup/Purdue said only three percent of undergrads do – make the absolute most out of their four-year college experience.    How My Daughter Made the Most Out of College

No. 3. Improve math skills

Fewer than a third of students from K-12 grades are proficient in math! Boosting math skills in grade school and beyond can not only ultimately lead to more college choices and greater awards, but a wider choice of realistic majors – and often higher paying ones.   Tutoring is an obvious way to boost students math abilities, but it can also be a wise idea for children who want to advance beyond their grade level. What’s more, if your child wants to attend a highly prestigious school, taking and doing well in Calculus is often a must. And that’s true even if a school doesn’t acknowledge it.   The online tutor who I’d highly recommend checking out is my son, Ben Bigelow, who graduated with a mathematics degree and a master’s in curriculum and instruction. Those credentials, however, pale in comparison to the fact that Ben is an innately gifted teacher, who is not only patient, but has the ability to draw the absolute most out of his students. Parents love him!

No. 4. Use this college software

Many parents will find that covering their college costs is a struggle if they don’t find schools that will generously discount the price through need-based aid or merit awards.   To make the hunt MUCH easier, I suggest using an inexpensive and invaluable consumer software offered by College Aid Pro. CAP started out years ago offering college software to financial advisors and I was thrilled when CAP rolled out easy-to-navigate college software for families.   Once you input information about the family, including finances and the student’s academic profile into the MyCAP software, it will instantly identify colleges that will charge you the price you are hoping to pay or close to it. If you don’t like that list, you can tweak what you are looking for in a variety of ways to find schools that will work financially and academically.   This software is just $149 for the year. (By the way, I get no financial payment from CAP for this recommendation!)

No. 5. Read my blog posts

While I stopped writing blog posts a while ago, a lot of solid advice remains on The College Solution to make you an educated college consumer. It exhausts me just thinking of the 1,489 blog posts that I wrote over the years!   Spend some time poking around on my website and you’ll be smarter about your college choices.

Thank you so much and good bye!

The best part of my mission was hearing from so many parents, students, high school counselors and college consultants, who benefited from my college advice. You have no idea how much that has meant to me! I want to THANK all of you who believed in my passionate aim of guiding people to finding their own college solution. I wish all of you the very best in your college journey! Fondly, Lynn O’Shaughnessy  TheCollegeSolution.com  Lynn@TheCollegeSolution.com

Some Great Blogs for Counselors

There are a lot of great blogs out there which contain information for Counselors. Here is a list of some great ones:

Corner on Character

Counselor Up

The Middle School Counselor

Pawsitive School Counseling

For High School Counselors

College Choice

Counselor Accents

Counselor Clique

Counselors’ Corner

Savvy School Counselor

Know of any that should be added? Send them my way – Jason@linkforcounselors.com

Equal Access: Universal Design of Recruitment and Undergraduate Admissions

A checklist for making recruitment and admissions activities welcoming and accessible to everyone is now available free.

The admissions office is the gateway to two-year colleges, vocational technical institutes, and universities, and it plays a central role in informing students and parents about campus programs and services. People with disabilities represent a significant and visible portion of those seeking information and admission. This publication identifies:

• key access issues for recruitment and admissions offices,
• disability-related issues with respect to admission policies and activities, and
• resources for additional information.

Here is a link to the free complete resource: https://www.washington.edu/doit/equal-access-universal-design-recruitment-and-undergraduate-admissions

Ignite Your Ignite: FREE Conference for Educators

Calling all educators ready to glow and grow in 2025! Join us for a free virtual conference on January 10th-12th, featuring 90-minute workshops with actionable strategies to address burnout, improve student behavior, and boost engagement. Prep for a successful second semester with Ignite Your Light.

P.S. Can’t make it live? No worries – register now, and we’ll send you the recordings to keep the spark alive!

A Bright Path Ahead:
The Complete Schedule

Discover powerful strategies to reenergize and illuminate the way to a strong second semester.

Resilient Educators: From Burnout to Breakthrough

Day 1 | Friday, January 10 | 4-5:30pm PT, 7-8:30pm ET

Educators are the light guiding the future, but burnout can dim even the brightest flame. This empowering keynote by Special Guest Lasada Pippen will reignite your energy and equip you to overcome challenges with resilience and purpose. Through inspiring stories, classroom secrets, and practical tips, you’ll move from Burnout to Breakthrough.

In this keynote, you’ll gain:

+ Practical Strategies: Known, simple science hacks to increase energy and productivity.
+ Motivation: One research-based discovery on how to remain motivated, passionate, and energized.
+ Self-Care: Learn how LP’s “P.O.P.” tip improves overall health.
+ Balance: Improve “TLB” and reconnect personally and professionally.
+ Culture: Learn four culture-transforming keys
+ Empowered: To achieve your breakthrough.

You will emerge with tools to practice self-care, connect with your purpose, and focus on the precious moments instead of the pressure moments.

(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)

The Brain in Balance: Understanding Dysregulation and How to Address It In Your Classroom

Day 2 | Saturday, January 11 | 9-10:30am PT, 12-1:30pm ET

Behavioral challenges in the classroom can feel overwhelming, but understanding the science of dysregulation can help you bring balance back. Join Dr. Ilana Nankin and Adriana Robertson for an enlightening workshop that dives into the neuroscience of dysregulation and how it impacts students and educators. This session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to create balance and foster a thriving learning environment.

In this workshop, you will learn:

+ The Science of Dysregulation: Understand how the brain responds to stress and imbalance.
+ How to Recognize the Signs: Identify indicators of dysregulation in yourself and your students.
+ Practical Strategies: Explore tools and techniques to restore regulation and foster resilience.
+ Building Connection: Learn how to create a supportive and balanced classroom environment.
+ PLUS a live Q&A at the end to get all your questions answered!

Walk away with actionable insights to help your students (and yourself) find calm, focus, and connection.

(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)

Engaging Hearts and Minds: Wellness-Centered Strategies for Student Engagement

Day 3 | Sunday, January 12 | 9-10:30am PT, 12-1:30pm ET

Inspire students to shine their brightest by creating a classroom environment that prioritizes wellness and social-emotional learning. This session focuses on creating meaningful connections, fostering emotional resilience, and integrating SEL practices to inspire students to show up as their best selves.

In this workshop you will learn…

✓ The Connection Between Wellness and Engagement: Explore how emotional well-being impacts students’ ability to focus and participate.
✓ SEL-Driven Relationship Building: Develop trust and connection with students through empathy and active listening.
✓ Mindful Engagement Techniques: Use mindfulness and reflection practices to spark curiosity and intrinsic motivation.
✓ Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment: Design classroom activities and routines that nurture emotional safety and encourage active participation.
✓ Learn from experts in the field and get your questions answered!

Equip yourself with wellness-centered strategies that engage students’ hearts and minds, empowering them to thrive academically and emotionally.

(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)

Register using this link: https://breatheforchange.com/ignite-your-light-2025/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1f_7iHSSwmCD2ryX5K6lk-P6HxX_6yUAF0N3iuZ7lmo2N1fTloFaaM-hU_aem_Nsku3YLw5lOwp7l-xqRX6A#register