SDSCA School Counselor Field Experience Network

Last year, the South Dakota School Counselor Association (SDSCA) worked with the school counselor preparation programs at NSU, SDSU, & USD to develop a "SDSCA School Counselor Field Experience Network". As we approach a new school year, it's time to update membership in the network. This network of school counselors works with counselor education programs to provide sites for shadowing, pre-practicum type class assignments, practicum, internships, and other field experiences. (The Network is not intended to replace existing arrangements or programs between school counselors and counselor education programs.)

Here are just a few examples of field experiences or assignments that may be used by counselor educators to help trainees gain more of an understanding of the roles counselors play:

• Meet with a school counselor to observe a classroom guidance session, then implement a classroom guidance activity the next week that is part of the counselor's regular classroom guidance program.

• Observe a school counselor for half of a day, then react to the experience.

• Complete an observation of a meeting conducted by or significantly involving a school counselor. This could be a Student Assistance Team meeting, an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) Meeting, a Child Protection Meeting, or other similar meeting in which the counselor plays an important role.

• Practicum

• Internship

The idea is to provide a systemic process that results in quality experiences for all involved. Counselor trainees and counselor educators will benefit from having counselors at school sites that are ready and willing to work with counselor trainees. Counselors in the field will benefit from knowing expectations ahead of time that will assist in providing quality experiences for trainees.

If you are interested in joining the "SDSCA School Counselor Field Experience Network" please send your name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, and your school counseling level (K-12, elem, middle school, high school) to Bill Smith via e-mail, phone, or US mail at the address below:

Dr. Bill Smith, Director
Instructional Support Services
Sioux Falls School District
201 E. 38th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Phone: (605) 367-7927
FAX: (605) 367-4528
E-mail: smithb@sf.k12.sd.us