Enhancing School Counselor Leadership in Multicultural Advocacy

School leaders’ perceptions on comprehensive school counseling (CSC) evaluation processes: Adherence and implementation of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model

“…While school principals or leaders handle the leadership and management of the school as a whole, school counselors often act in the complementary role of supporting and advocating on behalf of individual students within the school (Evans, Zambrano, Cook, Moyer, & Duffey, 2011). According to the ASCA guidelines, appropriate tasks for school counselors can include direct service to students, such as counseling students or leading counseling-based programming; consultation with teachers and parents; social justice reform, such as advocating for students facing potential identity-based discrimination; and crisis intervention (ASCA, 2012a).…”

New School Counselors’ Perceptions of Factors Influencing Their Roles as Leaders

“…For new school counselors, understanding the factors that may impede or promote their leadership capacity within their schools and recognizing that they are educated and equipped to handle these factors is important (Evans, Zambrano, Cook, Moyer, & Duffey, 2011;Wines, 2013). Although multiculturalism may be a covered topic in graduate training programs or specific courses, we recommend that multiculturalism specifically be discussed in relation to leadership development with school counselors in training (Ratts & Greenleaf, 2017;Wines, 2013).…”

School Counselors as Social Justice Leaders

“…A pervasive achievement gap exists between Latino children and their White peers with a difference of between 21 and 26 points on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (Hemphill & Vanneman, 2011). Exacerbating the situation, parents who are culturally and linguistically different from the majority culture are often excluded from decisions involving their children in school systems (Evans et al, 2011). The challenge for schools is to develop culturally inclusive forums for parents and schools to connect with one another and create systems of support that impact educational outcomes.…”

“…With knowledge, skills, and training, school counselors are well equipped to lead efforts to increase Latino family engagement and student achievement. School counselors can serve as leaders in multicultural advocacy (Evans et al, 2011) and act as "culturally responsive change agents who integrate instructional and school counseling practices" to initiate, develop, and implement equitable services and programs for all students (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2012a, p. 11). Aydin, Bryan, and Duys (2012) asserted that school counselors' "expertise in human development, collaboration, and systems change" puts them "in the best position to promote partnerships with families" (p. 146).…”

“…As microcosms of society, schools reflect the changing ethnic and racial demographics representative of the United States (Evans, Zambrano, Cook, Moyer, & Duffey, 2011). Increasingly, communities include a significant number of Latinos.…”