Loyola鈥檚 School Counseling program creates new site supervisor training program for Baltimore City Public Schools
Clinical assistant professors, Kharod France, Ph.D. and Gayle Cicero, Ed.D., from 成人抖阴鈥檚 Master鈥檚 in School Counseling program have created a new training program, BCPSS SSTARR, for school counselors鈥攁lso known as site supervisors鈥攊n Baltimore City Public Schools who are interested in training school counseling interns. BCPSS SSTAR stands for 鈥淏altimore City Public School System Site Supervisor Training and Readiness.鈥�
During the Master鈥檚 in School Counseling program at Loyola, students are required to complete a supervised in-school internship and practicum experience. School Counseling interns are placed in schools throughout the Baltimore community and are assigned a site supervisor. Site supervisors are current school counselors who support, observe, provide feedback, help identify students for interns to work with, and meet with interns on a regular basis.
The training program is delivered over Zoom and consists of eight one-hour intervals of professional development over the fall and spring semesters. It is intended for past, present, and future school counselors who are interested in supervising school counseling interns. The trainings are an opportunity to brainstorm, engage, and discuss various topics and techniques with other school counselors and facilitators.
Site supervisors also learn supervision techniques, revisit best practices in school counseling, explore the tenets of highly effective practices of site supervisors, and exchange and share ideas and experiences. Participants receive eight National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) clock hours that count towards their certification requirement and a certificate at the end of the program.
France designed, structured, and implemented the program with the first cohort, who actively supervise as they鈥檙e completing the program. 鈥淲orking with the site supervisors has been rewarding and enriching. I鈥檝e enjoyed the rich discussions and exchange of ideas and information,鈥� said France. 鈥淚鈥檝e received feedback that the program is very helpful and helps the school counselors to be more intentional. My hope is to eventually expand the training program to other districts and recruit more site supervisors through word of mouth.鈥�
The pandemic created a greater need for additional training and support for school counselors, so they can more effectively address students鈥� needs. Before this training, there was no official training provided for site supervisors and this program provides an opportunity to better serve students. 鈥淭he value of this training stems beyond just professional development, it gives facilitators and participants an opportunity to 鈥減our into the cup鈥� and work together to lead, serve, and advocate for our young people,鈥� said Cicero.
To learn more about Loyola鈥檚 Master鈥檚 in School Counseling programs, the internship experience, or how to be a site supervisor, visit loyola.edu/schoolcounseling.