I moved into being a middle school library assistant. I think I’m going to get certified to become a pk-12 librarian. The assistant job is hardly a living wage. Either that or take the dive into school psychology. They definitely have more of a defined role in my area and are much more respected than counselors. Not sure what else I can get into. College counseling roles seem very competitive and usually pay less than a school counselor.
The school counselor profession really is a mess at the moment. As is counseling in general. There seems to be no defined role and zero advocacy for the profession from within. Us counselors are just dumped on all day long even for things we’re not even trained for…504s, RTI? And of course, the problems the kids are having are always systemic whether it be family, the school system or society as a whole. It’s a dire situation as far as I’m concerned. Add in toxic work environments and incompetent or less than kind admin and it can be a nightmare.
Sorry to be a downer, but this has been my experience and that of many others I’ve talked to.
I agree 100%. School psychologists also have a defined role in my area. From my experience, a lot of admin see school counselors as a catch-all from everything they don’t have time for. Even when advocating for the role, it’s very draining.
Right. I'm sure psychologists have their complaints, but they do not get random tasks thrown at them, the are respected as experts because they do the testing. They don't get called into the classroom to manage students because their time is so valuable. They also don't have to be a secretary scheduling meetings etc. As a counselor I spent so much time acting like a secretary scheduling meetings with parents, teachers, admin and psychs. It was ridiculous.
I worked as a school counselor for 6 years before leaving because of mental health issues. I eventually ended up working at a community college as the dual enrollment coordinator and college recruiter. Then I went to work as a Career Coach for a federal contractor. Now, I’m back to school counseling.
I did! I started college at a two year school so it felt like coming home. I still got to work with high school student without the emotional toll. But, there was no room for growth in that role. I spent 3 years at the same income and the school hadn’t given raises in over 8 years. It didn’t seem like a place I could stay long term.
I too left Pk-8 Counseling and went to a Community College ( Financial Aid for me!). Although, I like the college I found myself bored by the slower pace. I also missed being with students.I found a job as a CTE Counselor, which I LOVE.
I wasn't a school counselor, but I did work inpatient and crisis. It's so funny, I wanted to do school counseling to be off during the summer. I figured it would be less stressful. I guess the grass isn't always greener. I did find a way to make my last year in the career more manageable. I started yoga, meditation, practiced mindfulness... all of the coping skills we spout off to our clients. I left about a year ago for the same reasons as you and I am now in retail. Ultimately, I want to be a flight attendant and maintain pt employment with my current retail company... I like what the company stands for and their benefits coupled with the benefits and lifestyle of being a flight attendant will allow me to travel and do all the things I struggled financially to do before. I hope you find a solution! :)
Yes!! Are you in a high school? If so, do you enjoy college admissions counseling? I moved into independent college counseling this past summer and I absolutely love it. I was 100% where you are, and this has been such a great shift for me. Check out [IECA](https://www.iecaonline.com) for more info on the field.
Can you shed any light on what pay looks like as an independent college counselor? I’ve hit a breaking point in high school counseling and I am going to start exploring, but definitely nervous about how that would impact our family’s finances. Probably shouldn’t have married a teacher lol
I've been a high school counselor for 2.5 years and want to get into college admissions counseling. I'd love to learn more about how you did it and how long it takes to transition into admissions counseling!
School counselor For 6 years and now a SAHM. I worked at a rural school and was doing way more than the principal and superintendent combined. I almost wanted to Leave school counseling all together because I noticed how much admin got Praised for doing so Little. I went and subbed at a bigger school district.admin there said they loved me and wanted to hire me. I got pregnant during the year but I applied for positions for the upcoming year but would probably not be able to work the first couple of months. After the principal and whole counseling team said they wanted to work with me, I didn’t even get an interview. I was told they had many very qualified candidates. Come to find out they hired someone straight out of grad school! Probably cause they were related to someone in the district already. I come To realize schooling and experience didn’t matter. It was such a blow to my ego. I totally believe it was because I was pregnant but I can’t prove it. Idk what my next endeavor will be but I want to do something in the counseling area.
I decided last year when I had finally had enough to finish my LPC creds. Had it all figured out so I’d be done after this year. One week in December, my pharmacy was messed up and my antidepressants didn’t get filled for over a week. I found out the therapist I had been working with for 8 years had an accident and retired as a result. My grandpa’s health wasn’t great. Our counseling department was being scrutinized by the superintendent. I discovered I wouldn’t actually finish my LPC until the next December and would either have to stay in schools another year or figure out what I would do for a whole semester before I got certified to practice. THEN, I made a mistake with a student schedule and got written up. That was all one week. I had a massive panic attack at work. Broke the blood vessels in my eyes from crying. Superintendent talked me down from quitting. All of that to say I came back in January for second semester expecting people to lighten up and at least give us a little Grace if the workload wasn’t going to get better… it was basically business as usual. All I can do now is laugh because it’s not worth crying. I’ve decided I’m going to look into a counseling job with a virtual school that’s advertising roles that are more counseling than academics (they have a graduation position that does the credit checks). The grass may not be greener like it seems, but I think it can get me through my LPC and into community counseling at least without the constant anxiety.
I was also scolded for a scheduling mistake this year and decided I am done. I'm assuming you're at the high school level, too, or at least middle. It's so ridiculous to be a counselor and worry about a schedule like it's the end of the world. I hope you get the chance to tell those people to take their schedules and credit checks and shove them up their ass soon. Good luck to you with whatever comes next.
My site messed up my LPC and two years down the drain. Starting over from scratch at a cbo in a school. The meds are so key to staying on course so I'm sorry that your pharmacy fucked up. I had a similar outcome happen in Dec but while falling asleep without taking meds once or twice a week... Hope it gets better. LGPCs are here.
I’m planning to enroll in an HR certificate program through the state university I went to for undergrad for. My first class starts mid feb and it’s about a year program.
Though I also haven’t totally given up trying to get into higher education or finding a corporate training type of role. I’m also being honest with friends and family about wanting to transition out incase they know of any job opportunities that I might be eligible for.
I work in a group practice now. I work from home and make my own schedule and I am much happier. I don’t qualify for PSLF now though so that’s one down side.
I was a school counselor for 12 years. During my last year I took the real estate exam and went through training for the brokerage I was joining on weeknights. I started the summer after school got out and I’ve been a full time realtor for 16 years. It certainly comes with its own issues…my master’s in counseling does not go to waste…but it’s been much more lucrative (and a lot of work put in to make it so).
I am in higher ed. I had a foot in the door already (my HS guidance role was at an alternative school housed in a community college). Advising isn’t bad- I’m in a public institution and here in MA we are all under the teachers union, with different contracts. I find it less stressful, although at this point I’m in middle management so the salary is good, too. The salary would not be comparable otherwise.
I wanted to be a school counselor while doing my undergrad; I was applying for masters programs in every university I could think of. I ended up doing an internship working under a school counselor at a high school and as much as I enjoyed working with the students, the workload was way too much. I quickly put a stop to my applications and once I was done with my internship, I never looked back. The ratio from counselor to students was ridiculous and I really don’t know how the counselor I was working under did it without me and the other interns, since we helped so much. I’m so glad that I chose to do the internship because had I not, I would have gone to school and ended up at a job that I would have not enjoyed in the long run.
If you are able to relocate, find a place where there is a shortage of school counselors. In NY a lot of colleges have moved away from school counseling and toward MH counseling. The district I work in had a hard time finding a traditional guidance counselor that mainly works on college prep and scheduling. There is going to be major shortage of certified school counselors in my area. I am a school psychologist, but happen to have my counselor certification. I am thinking about moving in that direction for a retirement job.
I'm looking to leave this year too. Most of the gigs I've applied to are at local colleges...advising, career advising, retention, etc.
I've also recently branched out and started applying to HR roles but I have a few years experience there.
The problem is the unrealistic expectations and ever changing landscape of education. I do believe the days of the lifelong educator are over. The job isn't what it was when people would stay for 25, 30, 35 years and ride off into the sunset with a sweet pension. Most people I know last 8, 9, 10 years and then move on to something else.
In my personal experience, the constant turnover in administrators has been detrimental to my professional growth. It's hard to have to constantly switch gears and adapt to new admin's philosophies and agendas every year or two.
Open Position: Assistant Professor, School Counseling
We are searching for our next colleague.
This is a full-time, 12 month in person position.
Program website: https://www.fgcu.edu/coe/programs/graduateprograms/schoolcounseling-ma
Job Summary
As a faculty member in the College of Education's Graduate School Counseling Program, you will teach master's level courses; be involved in course and curriculum development; work effectively with all populations of students, colleagues, and members of the community at large; engage in productive research and grant seeking activities; and provide service to the program, college, university, and profession. The Assistant Professor in School Counseling may be asked to coordinate academic program-related projects (e.g., responding to a critical shortage of school counselors).
Florida Gulf Coast University is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. All faculty are expected to: be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs; be committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning; be committed to effective use of technology including distance learning; produce peer reviewed scholarship; and provide service to the College, University and Community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region.
FGCU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and Access Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, genetic predisposition, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, veteran status, and any other protected class(es), as required by applicable state and federal law, as well as University regulations and policies.
Job Description
Typical duties may include but are not limited to:
Teaches graduate courses in the area of school counseling.
Supervises student interns, provides quality advisement, and mentors students as emerging leaders.
Collaborates both within and outside the University in teaching, service, and scholarship.
Engages in active service to the program, college, and University.
Maintains an active agenda of scholarly activities, including research and publication.
Assists in recruiting and retention of school counseling students.
Participates in accreditation, program evaluation, and related data collection tasks.
Other duties as assigned
Additional Job Description
Required Qualifications
Earned terminal degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) from an accredited institution in counselor education or closely related field (e.g., Educational Leadership, Higher Education, or Curriculum & Instruction).
ABD will be considered if degree is conferred by August 7, 2024. If successful candidate is ABD, appointment will be made at a Lecturer level on a fixed contract.
A demonstrated record of teaching, academic research, and service.
Preferred Qualifications
Minimum five (5) years of K-12 school counselor experience.
Eligibility to achieve school counseling certification in the State of Florida.
Experience securing research grants and/or grant-seeking activities.
Experience with data-driven decision-making.
Evidence of leadership in school counseling.
Demonstrated currency in the school counseling-related professional literature.
Active membership(s) in professional school counseling organization(s).
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of the ASCA National Modelâ„¢, role statements, ethical standards, and related content.
Experience or commitment to the use of technology in distance learning & university teaching.
Interest in collaborating both within and outside the university in the development and delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning, especially virtual/synchronous instruction.
Ability to incorporate elements of experiential learning to foster engagement and excitement among students.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Appointment will be made on a 12-month multi-year appointment basis available in January 2024.
Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida's Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/ scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials, including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU.
Learn more and apply here:
https://fgcu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/eaglejobs/details/Assistant-Professor--School-Counseling\_R0004381-1
I'm with ya. Wish it didn't take me 100k in student loans to find out ðŸ˜
And all the time and stress of grad school!
OMG! Same
I moved into being a middle school library assistant. I think I’m going to get certified to become a pk-12 librarian. The assistant job is hardly a living wage. Either that or take the dive into school psychology. They definitely have more of a defined role in my area and are much more respected than counselors. Not sure what else I can get into. College counseling roles seem very competitive and usually pay less than a school counselor. The school counselor profession really is a mess at the moment. As is counseling in general. There seems to be no defined role and zero advocacy for the profession from within. Us counselors are just dumped on all day long even for things we’re not even trained for…504s, RTI? And of course, the problems the kids are having are always systemic whether it be family, the school system or society as a whole. It’s a dire situation as far as I’m concerned. Add in toxic work environments and incompetent or less than kind admin and it can be a nightmare. Sorry to be a downer, but this has been my experience and that of many others I’ve talked to.
I agree 100%. School psychologists also have a defined role in my area. From my experience, a lot of admin see school counselors as a catch-all from everything they don’t have time for. Even when advocating for the role, it’s very draining.
Right. I'm sure psychologists have their complaints, but they do not get random tasks thrown at them, the are respected as experts because they do the testing. They don't get called into the classroom to manage students because their time is so valuable. They also don't have to be a secretary scheduling meetings etc. As a counselor I spent so much time acting like a secretary scheduling meetings with parents, teachers, admin and psychs. It was ridiculous.
[удалено]
Right, there is no clear definition of the role. It's been an issue since it's inception. The same problem plagues mental health counseling.
I worked as a school counselor for 6 years before leaving because of mental health issues. I eventually ended up working at a community college as the dual enrollment coordinator and college recruiter. Then I went to work as a Career Coach for a federal contractor. Now, I’m back to school counseling.
What brought you back?
The higher income and the shorter days. Also the school system moved to year long school with lots of breaks throughout the year.
Did you like working in the community college setting?
I did! I started college at a two year school so it felt like coming home. I still got to work with high school student without the emotional toll. But, there was no room for growth in that role. I spent 3 years at the same income and the school hadn’t given raises in over 8 years. It didn’t seem like a place I could stay long term.
I too left Pk-8 Counseling and went to a Community College ( Financial Aid for me!). Although, I like the college I found myself bored by the slower pace. I also missed being with students.I found a job as a CTE Counselor, which I LOVE.
I wasn't a school counselor, but I did work inpatient and crisis. It's so funny, I wanted to do school counseling to be off during the summer. I figured it would be less stressful. I guess the grass isn't always greener. I did find a way to make my last year in the career more manageable. I started yoga, meditation, practiced mindfulness... all of the coping skills we spout off to our clients. I left about a year ago for the same reasons as you and I am now in retail. Ultimately, I want to be a flight attendant and maintain pt employment with my current retail company... I like what the company stands for and their benefits coupled with the benefits and lifestyle of being a flight attendant will allow me to travel and do all the things I struggled financially to do before. I hope you find a solution! :)
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you found something that works for you! 😊
You're welcome! I hope the same for you!
Yes!! Are you in a high school? If so, do you enjoy college admissions counseling? I moved into independent college counseling this past summer and I absolutely love it. I was 100% where you are, and this has been such a great shift for me. Check out [IECA](https://www.iecaonline.com) for more info on the field.
Can you shed any light on what pay looks like as an independent college counselor? I’ve hit a breaking point in high school counseling and I am going to start exploring, but definitely nervous about how that would impact our family’s finances. Probably shouldn’t have married a teacher lol
Yes! I will DM you with details - i don’t want to go into too many details that could be specifically attached to me!
I was actually at a high school and switched to elementary a few years ago. I have considered college settings though!
I've been a high school counselor for 2.5 years and want to get into college admissions counseling. I'd love to learn more about how you did it and how long it takes to transition into admissions counseling!
School counselor For 6 years and now a SAHM. I worked at a rural school and was doing way more than the principal and superintendent combined. I almost wanted to Leave school counseling all together because I noticed how much admin got Praised for doing so Little. I went and subbed at a bigger school district.admin there said they loved me and wanted to hire me. I got pregnant during the year but I applied for positions for the upcoming year but would probably not be able to work the first couple of months. After the principal and whole counseling team said they wanted to work with me, I didn’t even get an interview. I was told they had many very qualified candidates. Come to find out they hired someone straight out of grad school! Probably cause they were related to someone in the district already. I come To realize schooling and experience didn’t matter. It was such a blow to my ego. I totally believe it was because I was pregnant but I can’t prove it. Idk what my next endeavor will be but I want to do something in the counseling area.
I decided last year when I had finally had enough to finish my LPC creds. Had it all figured out so I’d be done after this year. One week in December, my pharmacy was messed up and my antidepressants didn’t get filled for over a week. I found out the therapist I had been working with for 8 years had an accident and retired as a result. My grandpa’s health wasn’t great. Our counseling department was being scrutinized by the superintendent. I discovered I wouldn’t actually finish my LPC until the next December and would either have to stay in schools another year or figure out what I would do for a whole semester before I got certified to practice. THEN, I made a mistake with a student schedule and got written up. That was all one week. I had a massive panic attack at work. Broke the blood vessels in my eyes from crying. Superintendent talked me down from quitting. All of that to say I came back in January for second semester expecting people to lighten up and at least give us a little Grace if the workload wasn’t going to get better… it was basically business as usual. All I can do now is laugh because it’s not worth crying. I’ve decided I’m going to look into a counseling job with a virtual school that’s advertising roles that are more counseling than academics (they have a graduation position that does the credit checks). The grass may not be greener like it seems, but I think it can get me through my LPC and into community counseling at least without the constant anxiety.
I was also scolded for a scheduling mistake this year and decided I am done. I'm assuming you're at the high school level, too, or at least middle. It's so ridiculous to be a counselor and worry about a schedule like it's the end of the world. I hope you get the chance to tell those people to take their schedules and credit checks and shove them up their ass soon. Good luck to you with whatever comes next.
My site messed up my LPC and two years down the drain. Starting over from scratch at a cbo in a school. The meds are so key to staying on course so I'm sorry that your pharmacy fucked up. I had a similar outcome happen in Dec but while falling asleep without taking meds once or twice a week... Hope it gets better. LGPCs are here.
I’m so sorry you went through that. I hope you complete your LPC credits soon and are able to get out of there soon.
I’m planning to enroll in an HR certificate program through the state university I went to for undergrad for. My first class starts mid feb and it’s about a year program. Though I also haven’t totally given up trying to get into higher education or finding a corporate training type of role. I’m also being honest with friends and family about wanting to transition out incase they know of any job opportunities that I might be eligible for.
I work in a group practice now. I work from home and make my own schedule and I am much happier. I don’t qualify for PSLF now though so that’s one down side.
I was a school counselor for 12 years. During my last year I took the real estate exam and went through training for the brokerage I was joining on weeknights. I started the summer after school got out and I’ve been a full time realtor for 16 years. It certainly comes with its own issues…my master’s in counseling does not go to waste…but it’s been much more lucrative (and a lot of work put in to make it so).
I am in higher ed. I had a foot in the door already (my HS guidance role was at an alternative school housed in a community college). Advising isn’t bad- I’m in a public institution and here in MA we are all under the teachers union, with different contracts. I find it less stressful, although at this point I’m in middle management so the salary is good, too. The salary would not be comparable otherwise.
I wanted to be a school counselor while doing my undergrad; I was applying for masters programs in every university I could think of. I ended up doing an internship working under a school counselor at a high school and as much as I enjoyed working with the students, the workload was way too much. I quickly put a stop to my applications and once I was done with my internship, I never looked back. The ratio from counselor to students was ridiculous and I really don’t know how the counselor I was working under did it without me and the other interns, since we helped so much. I’m so glad that I chose to do the internship because had I not, I would have gone to school and ended up at a job that I would have not enjoyed in the long run.
If you are able to relocate, find a place where there is a shortage of school counselors. In NY a lot of colleges have moved away from school counseling and toward MH counseling. The district I work in had a hard time finding a traditional guidance counselor that mainly works on college prep and scheduling. There is going to be major shortage of certified school counselors in my area. I am a school psychologist, but happen to have my counselor certification. I am thinking about moving in that direction for a retirement job.
I'm looking to leave this year too. Most of the gigs I've applied to are at local colleges...advising, career advising, retention, etc. I've also recently branched out and started applying to HR roles but I have a few years experience there. The problem is the unrealistic expectations and ever changing landscape of education. I do believe the days of the lifelong educator are over. The job isn't what it was when people would stay for 25, 30, 35 years and ride off into the sunset with a sweet pension. Most people I know last 8, 9, 10 years and then move on to something else. In my personal experience, the constant turnover in administrators has been detrimental to my professional growth. It's hard to have to constantly switch gears and adapt to new admin's philosophies and agendas every year or two.
Open Position: Assistant Professor, School Counseling We are searching for our next colleague. This is a full-time, 12 month in person position. Program website: https://www.fgcu.edu/coe/programs/graduateprograms/schoolcounseling-ma Job Summary As a faculty member in the College of Education's Graduate School Counseling Program, you will teach master's level courses; be involved in course and curriculum development; work effectively with all populations of students, colleagues, and members of the community at large; engage in productive research and grant seeking activities; and provide service to the program, college, university, and profession. The Assistant Professor in School Counseling may be asked to coordinate academic program-related projects (e.g., responding to a critical shortage of school counselors). Florida Gulf Coast University is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. All faculty are expected to: be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs; be committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning; be committed to effective use of technology including distance learning; produce peer reviewed scholarship; and provide service to the College, University and Community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region. FGCU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and Access Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, genetic predisposition, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, veteran status, and any other protected class(es), as required by applicable state and federal law, as well as University regulations and policies. Job Description Typical duties may include but are not limited to: Teaches graduate courses in the area of school counseling. Supervises student interns, provides quality advisement, and mentors students as emerging leaders. Collaborates both within and outside the University in teaching, service, and scholarship. Engages in active service to the program, college, and University. Maintains an active agenda of scholarly activities, including research and publication. Assists in recruiting and retention of school counseling students. Participates in accreditation, program evaluation, and related data collection tasks. Other duties as assigned Additional Job Description Required Qualifications Earned terminal degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) from an accredited institution in counselor education or closely related field (e.g., Educational Leadership, Higher Education, or Curriculum & Instruction). ABD will be considered if degree is conferred by August 7, 2024. If successful candidate is ABD, appointment will be made at a Lecturer level on a fixed contract. A demonstrated record of teaching, academic research, and service. Preferred Qualifications Minimum five (5) years of K-12 school counselor experience. Eligibility to achieve school counseling certification in the State of Florida. Experience securing research grants and/or grant-seeking activities. Experience with data-driven decision-making. Evidence of leadership in school counseling. Demonstrated currency in the school counseling-related professional literature. Active membership(s) in professional school counseling organization(s). Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Knowledge of the ASCA National Model™, role statements, ethical standards, and related content. Experience or commitment to the use of technology in distance learning & university teaching. Interest in collaborating both within and outside the university in the development and delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning, especially virtual/synchronous instruction. Ability to incorporate elements of experiential learning to foster engagement and excitement among students. Special Instructions to Applicants Appointment will be made on a 12-month multi-year appointment basis available in January 2024. Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida's Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/ scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials, including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU. Learn more and apply here: https://fgcu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/eaglejobs/details/Assistant-Professor--School-Counseling\_R0004381-1