Back to the Basics: College Counseling Simplified
Transcript of Back to the Basics: College Counseling Simplified
Back to the Basics: College Counseling Simplified
Chelette Stephenson, Director of College Counseling & Alumni Programs
July 8, 2015
Define College Counseling
Objectives for today
• Take the stress out of day-to-day activities and learn how to efficiently advise students, parents, and administrators on your campus.
• Create actions plans for social media use, active calendaring, utilizing daily priority planning sheets, events and activities to promote college, while serving all populations to ensure equal access to college.
Who am I?
Chelette Stephenson
@TxCollegeLady
• Mother of 2 children under the age of 6 & wife. • Yes Prep-North Central, Director of College
Counseling & Alumni Program-2 years
• Magnolia ISD College and Career Advisor, 8 years
• LPC • ACA, TACAC & NACAC member • 2012 NSI Innovative Program • NSI Presenter since 2010 • Texas A&M Class of 2001
Yes Prep North Central
• North Central: 945 students, Public Charter School in Houston, Texas
• Named by U.S. News & World Report as the #4 Best High School in the state of Texas, #7 Best Charter School in the Nation and #28 Best High School in the nation
• The ethnic background of our students is as follows: Hispanic/Latino 96%
African-American 3% Caucasian 1%
• 82% of our students are economically disadvantaged and qualify to receive either free/reduced price breakfast and lunch.
My Team
• 3 ½ College Counselors including DCC • Comprehensive college counseling, ongoing
alumni support, summer opportunities, Seminar class and strategic IMPACT Partnerships with targeted colleges and universities.
Define your Boundaries
Capture this:
1. What are your non-negotiables? 2. Do you have clear boundaries that you, your
team, administrative team and others know?
3. How do you communicate this with others?
What are your objectives?
Why do you do what you do?
1. Create personal & team goals 2. Create guiding questions to ask you and/or
your team 1. Why are we doing this? 2. Are we doing this because we have
almost done this? 3. Is this transformational? 4. Does this benefits students, teachers,
families or the community.
That sounds great but how do you do it?
Daily Priority Sheet I'm thankful for;.. --------------------------
Goal(s): _
Priorities
PEOPLE
f± People I'm waiting on.
Appointments Today
People I need to reach out to oday.
List the people you haYe to react\ Oijt to today no rratterwtoat:
List me pEOple who vou nl!l!d something from to move forward:
Priority ij1: Data Priority 112: Persistence PriJrity It: Organize
5 big t hings I must do to move this project forward :
5 big things I must do t o move this proj ect forwa rd:
5 big things Imust :lo to move thi;project forward:
1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 3. 3. 3. 4. 4. 4. 5. 5. 5.
Vision Achievement Instruction Persistence Team Growth Area of Growth
Structured Check Ins
Agenda Item Notes Action Required (Whom/When)
Temperature Check (5 minutes)
Highs/Lows (opportunity to share personal/professional successes and challenges)
Looping You In… (5 minutes)
FYIs (This is where you provide me with quick written updates on things you want to loop me in on/I want to be looped in on, which we might engage in during the mee?ng)
Old Business (10 minutes)
Next Steps Review / Status Updates from Previous Meetings (This is where you capture our next steps from the last mee?ng (for both of us!) and update on progress)
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Date Owner Item
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CollaboraOon (35-‐40 minutes)
Collaboration Time (This is likely 1-‐3 meaty topics you would like me as a thought-‐partner. When possible, I would like you to come having thought about mul?ple solu?ons and recommenda?on(s). If there are documents you would like feedback on related to this agenda item or ones that serve as background informa?on, please paste into this agenda so I can review ahead of time.)
Feedback (15 minutes)
Learn from Each Other / Focus Area Work (e.g. HIRs/Goals review)
Next Steps (5-‐10 minutes)
Review Next Steps Coming Out of this Meeting (This is the time we both quickly process our notes, review them and commit to each other next steps to ensure we are on the same page.)
Topic Lead Notes
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Personal Professional Development
1. Join a professional organization and become active! (NACAC, ACA, ASCA, etc)
2. Serve on a board or volunteer advisory group with the local college or community organization.
3. Attend conferences outside the box. 4. READ and encourage a book club among your
counseling team, admin team, teachers, etc.
A glance into my year
• Alumni Programming & Support • Alumni Send Off in August • Alumni Luncheon (January) • Alumni Graduation and Staff Program • Alumni Mentor Program • TIA Program (Teachers Inspiring Action) • College Alumni Call Bank
• Daily seminar classes 6th through 12 grade • Good teaching is good counseling. Good counseling
is good teaching • Get in the classrooms, commons…get out of your
office!
Senior Events
• College Fly In Programs • College Week for HS and Middle School • College Application Deadline: November 15 • Project Submit Lock-in • FAFSA & TAFSA Week • Financial Aid Deadline: February 15 • Senior Signing Day • Alumni Transition Event
• Partner with colleges
• Smart Cookie Party for PSAT testers • Oh the Places You’ll Go to honor College
Acceptances
• Chalk Art for SAT/ACT Prep throughout the year. • Social Media Presence: @NC2College and
@TXCollegeLady
• College Boot Camp (ACE Program) • Chemistry Booster for outgoing Seniors
(Partnership with local college) • Summer Opportunities Coordinator • Spring Trips
A few other great ideas
• Shark Week • 9th Grade Summer Program
Questions?