2-05-2024 4:31am

SCHOOL COUNSELORS:

CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK 2024

School counselors answer questions about their student-focused work

To celebrate National School Counseling Week, Feb. 5 - 9, 2024, BCPS asked a handful of school counselors to answer a few questions about the work they do to support students. Four of the five profiled received 2023 honors (indicated below) from the Baltimore County Association for Counseling and Development. The fifth school counselor profiled has a wealth of experience in the field. The 2024 theme for National School Counseling Week is "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused."

EMILY RUOCCO, WEST TOWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2023 Elementary School Counselor of the Year

Emily Ruocco

How do you build trust with students?

I try to build rapport and trust with my students by being present. This means being present around the building and talking with them, knowing the present times and their interests to connect, and present when they need me to talk. I love connecting and building trust using humor and respect. I also like to talk to the students about their interests, Avengers, Taylor Swift, skincare, and much more. This makes me feel real to them and less like an authority figure to fear in the building when they need to talk about something sensitive.

When I started in BCPS, I was right out of graduate school and young. I connected with the students differently than I do now as I am married with children of my own.

How has your role as a school counselor changed over the years?

My role as school counselor has changed over the years due to changes in my own life as well as the changes in these students. When I started in BCPS, I was right out of graduate school and young. I connected with the students differently than I do now as I am married with children of my own. I feel that being a parent has helped me not only with the students, but also with the parents. I can connect with students and parents in a different way that is extremely helpful as well as effective. Different voice.

MILAN AMOS, CATONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

2023 Rookie School Counselor of the Year

Milan Amos

How do you build trust with students?

My approach to building relationships with students is to have an approachable demeanor, meet students where they are, and make my office the “cool office” with snacks, hygienics, games, and coloring supplies to display a welcoming environment. I also found that talking to students about sports or complimenting their outfit or hair has gone a long way for me as well. It makes them feel seen and confident. You never know how a simple compliment can change someone’s whole day around for the better.

When you get to see the results of your work and all the strategies and time spent with a kid paying off, it makes a world of difference for me and makes it all worthwhile.

What has surprised you most about your work as a school counselor?

I think the biggest surprise I have come to realize is how much of an impact I’ve had on my kiddos. As a counselor you don’t always get to see the results of your work through each kid. All you can do is hope you have done and said the right things to make a difference. But when you get to see the results of your work and all the strategies and time spent with a kid paying off, it makes a world of difference for me and makes it all worthwhile.

EMILY DEWLIN, DUNDALK HIGH SCHOOL

2023 High School Counselor of the Year

Emily Dewlin

Did a school counselor make a difference in your life?

Yes! I am a 2005 Hereford High School alum, and Dr. Kevin Ensor was my college counselor. I remember meeting with Dr. Ensor and my parents in his office decorated with college pennants and discussing college opportunities. Six years later, I earned my Master of Education degree in school counseling and reconnected with Dr. Ensor, who ended up being my first supervisor of school counseling when I began my career in Harford County. My dream was to become a college counselor in BCPS just like him, which is where I am today at Dundalk High School!

My dream was to become a college counselor in BCPS just like [Dr. Kevin Ensor, my college counselor], which is where I am today at Dundalk High School!

How do you support students in reaching their personal, academic, and/or career goals?

As the college counselor at Dundalk High School, I meet with students of all grade levels to discuss their post-secondary goals. In the 9th grade, I talk about the importance of getting good grades, taking challenging classes, and getting involved in extracurricular activities. In the 10th and 11th grades, I help students explore careers and research colleges and trade schools. I also assist students with signing up to take CCBC classes so they can get a head start on college. In the 12th grade, I help students with completing college applications and applying for financial aid and scholarships.

DONNA MURPHY, EASTERN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Veteran school counseling department chair

Donna Murphy

How do you support students in reaching their personal, academic, and/or career goals?

I support students by providing a safe space for all students, actively listening to students and genuinely hearing their concerns, adhering to our school counseling plan that delivers the comprehensive school counseling curriculum, and always striving to learn with, and about, our students, families, and school.

What has surprised you most about your work as a school counselor?

What surprises me most…sometimes LOTS… is that there is never a dull day in the world of the school counselor. My happiest surprise is that I continue to learn something new each day. I learn about my students, the system, our school, families, relationships—this work definitely keeps me young.

AMY SELBY, DEEP CREEK MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL

2023 Middle School Counselor of the Year

Amy Selby

How do you build trust with students?

In the seven years that I have been at my school, I have consistently found my students to be passionate, strong, and incredibly loyal. They are also unbelievably funny! When our students know that we care about them, and respect them, building trust is easy. I’m careful to always be honest, genuine, and above all, to demonstrate empathy.

When our students know that we care about them, and respect them, building trust is easy.

What has surprised you most about your work as a school counselor?

I can’t count the number of times I have been surprised in my work as a school counselor. I’m surprised every single day. As a middle-aged adult, with two children of my own, I thought that very few things would shock me; I was very wrong. I am surprised each day, as I interact with my students, at how open-minded, resilient, reflective, and empathetic they are. I am surprised that every day I learn far more from them, than they do from me. I’m surprised that a career that is often so challenging, overwhelming, and even heartbreaking, is also amazingly rewarding.