Iowa School Counselors

“Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”

From the above motto, there’s no guess-work when it comes to Iowa’s stance on freedom and human rights. Equally, there is no guess-work as to Iowa’s education goals for every student in the state. School counselors support these goals and are prized assets to Iowa’s educational institutions.

Driven to implement effective curricula and instructional programs, Iowa school counselors are both articulate and sequential in their efforts to help students flourish.

Every solid school counseling program must have a positive impact on various groups of people in the education system, including parents, teachers, administrators, and, of course, students. School counselors in Iowa work in tandem with everyone involved to ensure the very best guidance and future for their students.

What do Iowa’s school counselors do?

School counselors are well-known for easing students through the often-tumultuous school years. But these professionals do much more than help students navigate problems and settle disputes.

Here are a few key things Iowa’s school counselors do:

1. They help students establish educational and career goals to develop future plans.

   While this role is naturally expected of school counselors across the nation, Iowa’s school counselors are leaders in establishing academic and career goals for every student. With comprehensive programs that address higher education, workforce/career options, and student life goals, counselors guide students towards the very best path for their individual goals.

2. They support student achievement through comprehensive school curriculum to which all students have equitable access.

   With the latest tools and technologies, Iowa school counselors supply engaging curriculum to all students, in determining their future school/career path. Data-driven courses help school counselors determine what their students need most. No student is left to navigate for themselves.

3. They research and identify resources and technologies to support teaching and learning.

   Always looking for new and innovative ideas, Iowa school counselors spend time researching and identifying resources to support their state-wide initiatives. Working closely with school administration, a team effort is made to determine which resources will be used in schools across the state.

4. They establish, maintain, and enhance school counseling programs, including professional development, consultation, collaboration, and operations.

   Collaboration is fundamental for the Iowa school counselor. As they establish relationships with other professionals, they are then able to enhance current counseling programs and develop new operations to benefit every student. School counselors are trained to network with other educators, state officials, and community leaders in order to develop the most effective counseling plans for their schools.

Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Iowa?

School counselors in Iowa have full support of their state government, as each school district works toward the goal of having one qualified professional school counselor for every three hundred fifty students. This falls in line with national averages and allows school counselors to best implement their programs effectively without being overwhelmed. With this in mind, here are a few more reasons someone should condor becoming a school counselor in Iowa:

• The average salary for a school counselor in Iowa is $54,070 per year.
• There is a great need for skilled professionals to inform the next generation about serious issues such as violence prevention, bullying prevention, and school safety.
• With the ever-growing need for student support, not only academically but socially/behaviorally as well, school guidance counseling is greatly needed in Iowa and beyond.

As school counselors in Iowa strive to uphold their state motto for freedom and rights, there is no doubt they are prized assets to the educational system. School counselors everywhere should be valued and supported as professionals who invest their heart and soul into the next generation.

Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as an Iowa School Counselor.

Whether you are from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Dubuque or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling a highly rewarding and respected career.

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