The Guidance Counselor plays many roles in a school.Thant is especially true of an Elmentary/Middle School like Francis Scott Key, where the children range in age from Pre-Kindergarten to the 8th grade.
One big job of a counselor is to listen to the students. Students can talk to the counselor about personal problems that can affect the student's attitude and performance in school, social issues such as how to deal with peer pressure, academic issues such as high school applications, improving attendance, improving study skills and grades, and planning the future by thnking ahead to college and career goals.
The guidance counselor works with the administration and the staff to make this the best school environment possible for the students who attend Francis Scott Key. Mrs. Berggren does this by meeting with the administrators about school issues, meeting with the teachers individually and in team meetings, and attending many meetings such as the School Improvement Team, Child Study Team and Student Support Team meetings.
Mrs. Berggren meets with parents about their student's academic and social issues, either in person or through phone conferences. She also keeps in regular contact with community agencies that offer medical or mental health care and makes referrals to these agencies if necessary.
A student can see the counselor by getting a pass from their teacher or administrator, or in the case of younger students, being brought to the counselor by the teacher or another staff person. What a student says to the counselor is confidential, with three important exceptions. If a student says he plans to hurt himself, hurt others, or is being abused or neglected, then the proper authorities and adults are notified at once.
In Maryland, a Guidance Counselor must meet certain qualifications. She must have been a teacher for 2 to 5 years or do extra preparation in a Masters Degree Program, and have a Masters Degree In Guidance and Counseling from an accredited college or university. Mrs. Berggren was a middle school Social Studies teacher at Francis Scott Key for 23 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in History and Education and a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Loyola College of Maryland. She has been the FSK's Guidance Counselor for the past 12 years.
