The Fredonia Central School District Student Support Services Department consists of school psychologists and school counselors who work collaboratively with teachers, students, parents, administrators, and related-service providers to meet the needs of students.

Your School Psychologists and School Counselors are specially trained to help students reach their full potential—as students and as people.

What do school psychologists do?

• Help all students, including gifted students, students who are not performing well academically, and those with disabilities, make the most from their educational experience.

• Collaborate with students, parents, teachers, and other service providers to identify students’ academic and developmental needs, and assist the school system to meet students’ various needs.

• Solve problems through direct contact with parents, teachers, and students, and recommend special programs or teaching methods.

• Empower and educate students, parents, and teachers to overcome barriers to learning. This may include issues related to disabilities, mental health, traumatic events, or developmental issues that are typical in childhood and adolescence.

Services that psychologists provide include:

Consultation: School psychologists may meet with parents, teachers, and school personnel about:

• how to best help students learn and achieve their potential

• ways to improve teaching methods or the learning environment of the classroom or home

• ways to improve the working relationship between teachers, parents, and administrators

Assessment: School psychologists may observe students in the classroom, interview students, and conduct evaluations to examine:

• academic achievement

• cognitive functioning

• social skills

• behavioral & emotional development

Direct Intervention: When appropriate, school psychologists work directly with a student and/or family to help solve problems.  Counseling, behavior management, or other approaches may be used. Referrals to other school support services or community resources may also be provided.

Education & Training Programs: School psychologists may provide educational programs for students, parents, school personnel, and others on various topics related to childhood and adolescence.  Some examples include:

• Programs for parents on adolescent issues, self-esteem and parenting skills

• Programs for school personnel on student learning, emotional issues, and behavior management

• Programs for high school students on depression awareness and suicide prevention

Program Evaluation: School psychologists may help evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and support services

What do school counselors do?

• Help every student develop competencies in academic, personal and social development, and career planning.

• Collaborate with students, parents, school staff, and the community to address the academic and developmental needs of all students, not just those in need.

• Develop  academic plans with students to prepare for successful careers after graduation and help students develop the necessary skills, such as organization, time management, and study skills.

• Empower and teach students to overcome obstacles that may form barriers to learning such as divorce or death in their family, peer relationship issues, as well as developmental issues typical in childhood and adolescence.

Some of the services that school counselors provide include:

School Guidance Curriculum: This curriculum helps students achieve the desired competencies and provides all students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The school guidance curriculum is delivered throughout the school's overall curriculum and is systematically presented by professional school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities.

Individual Student Planning: School counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans.  Topics include:

• Academic Program Planning

• College/Career Planning

Responsive Services: Responsive services consist of prevention and/or intervention activities to meet students’ immediate and future needs. These needs can be necessitated by events and conditions in students’ lives and the school climate and culture, and may require any of the following:

• Individual or group counseling

• Consultation with parents, teachers and other educators

• Referrals to other school support services or community resources

• Intervention and advocacy at the systemic level

System Support : System support consists of management activities establishing, maintaining, and enhancing the total school counseling program. These activities include professional development, consultation, collaboration, supervision, program management and operations.

*School Counselors and School Psychologists are committed to continual personal and professional development and are proactively involved in professional organizations promoting their fields at the local, state, and national levels.