Elizabeth Alfano

Mama - S.S. Teacher - FSU Grad Student - True Crime Junkie

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

School counselors work to maximize student success, promoting access and equity for all students. As vital members of the school leadership team, school counselors create a school culture of success for all. #NSCW23 @EHinesPhD

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

I want to be a school counselor to advocate for educational equity and availability for all students, while supporting their mental health and post secondary goals. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

SCs can assist students in developing self-determination skills by providing students with information on their disabilities, as well as describing their needs to others, and appropriately requesting accommodations. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

SCs can be a part of RTI implementation by ensuring equity and access to quality instruction and behavioral support for all students. Both comprehensive developmental school counseling programs and RTI are proactive & data-driven, focusing on the whole child. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Higher levels of adolescent social media engagement involve demands that increase digital stress, which in turn are associated with the worsening of depressive symptoms over time. SCs should strive to provide interventions to ameliorate this phenomenon. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

International research consistently shows that high-stakes exams are a significant source of stress & worry for students w/in secondary education. B/C of an emphasis on standardized tests, SCs must provide students w/ coping skills to support their mental health. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

As health care organizations continue to limit services offered, including mental health services, it has become increasingly critical for SCs to work with other human services professionals to meet their students' wide-ranging needs. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

From a developmental & pedagogical POV, students often learn best from each other. Group counseling provides a social environment where providing feedback & experiencing support can flourish. Group work is one of the SCs most specialized skills. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

In the current economy, everyone needs some sort of postsecondary education, be it a two-year or four-year college degree or a specialized career/tech preparation program. SCs must help students relate school performance to postsecondary goal achievement. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Educational planning is the means through which linkages are forged, for students as well as stakeholders, between academic achievement and postsecondary options. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Although SCs shouldn't be high-paid clerks, SCs must be engaged as leaders & advocates, ensuring that all students receive outstanding teaching & that no students are marginalized or tracked with teachers who don't believe all students can learn at high levels. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Whereas some educators use a deficit model referring to "at-risk" students, transformed SCs focus on student strengths and refer to students facing achievement and opportunity gaps as "at promise." #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

School counselors are in the perfect position to be social justice advocates and change agents, as "school counselors sit at the intersection of health and education." -Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Schools are microcosms of society; reflecting the accepted values, messaging and culture of their communities. When students don't feel welcomed and valued in their communities/schools, SCs can be an advocate and ally to help them be heard. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Handling the multitude of ethical hot topics requires SCs to try to do what is in the best interest of their clients, while helping their clients see what that is. This is paramount to the profession, since often SC's are the only advocates for their students. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Because there are greater penalties associated with laws, counselors should follow the legal course of action, IF there is no harm to their clients. How can counselors ensure their client's safety when faced with vague legislation such as Florida HB 1557? #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

Currently, only 5 states require professional school counselors to have experience as teachers. Most counselor educators suggest that this movement toward opening the ranks to nonteachers has benefitted the profession. #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

School counseling classroom instruction is a vital part of any properly integrated school counseling program. "If you are doing what is right for kids, even it's inconvenient for the adults it will be the right thing to do." Paul Brenton #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

The transformation of the school counseling profession must be guided by knowledge & understanding (through data) of what works. We should constantly be gathering information to answer the question, "Is what I'm doing working with this student?" #FSUSC #SCCHAT

[Elizabeth Alfano @ElizabethAlfan4]

It is not an exaggeration to say that the services provided by, and responsibilities of, professional school counselors are among the most complex of any school employee. #FSUSC #SCCHAT