Carroll Schools recognized for counseling program

Carroll Elementary and Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School are two of 20 Indiana schools to receive the 2006 Indiana Gold Star School Counseling Award.

The announcement of the award came from the Indiana Department of Education and the American Student Achievement Institute.

The award will be presented to representatives of the schools at the Indiana School Counselor Association State Conference on Nov. 3 in Indianapolis.

The Carroll Consolidated School Corporation Guidance Departments meet all of the requirements for the nation's highest recognition of school counseling programs - the American School Counselor Association's RAMP program.

RAMP is the Recognized ASCA Model Program and demonstrates that a school is "committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program."

Only 18 other school counseling programs around the country have received the distinctive RAMP recognition. A national recognition program honoring RAMP schools will be held this spring in Washington, D.C.

To qualify for both awards, the school submitted a portfolio with documentation that the school meets the nine program standards found in Indiana's Program Standards for School Counseling: 1) foundations, 2) data-based accountability, 3) student guidance, 4) student counseling, 5) student advocacy, 6) program management, 7) professionalism, 8) resources, and 9) continuous improvement.

The Indiana Gold Star School Counseling program was recognized by the national Pathways to College Network as one of approximately 100 programs across the country that "reflect research-based principles and actions to improve college access and success."

Kristen Seward, Scot Collins, Cindy Reinke, Tamie Arnett, Jeff Pomasl, Dennis Sipe, Cathy Ayres, and Michelle Strawcutter attended four training sessions in Indianapolis during the 2005-06 school year where they learned how to implement the Gold Star School Counseling model.

Also involved in the local initiative were students, teachers, parents, and community members who serve on the local School Counseling Advisory Council. This group provided valuable input and feedback as the Gold Star School Counseling initiative was being developed. Members of the Advisory Council include Louanna Hufford, Matthew Hufford, Paul Redmon, Jerry Reinke, Susie Budreau, Barb Payne, Nancy Carter, Rev. Charles Compton, Chris Pippenger, Van and Becky Taylor, Dr. Janet Ayres, Ellen Sigler, Richard Richardson, Erika Maddox, and John Franklin.

Sue Reynolds, executive director of the American Student Achievement Institute, had high praise for the local school counseling program.

"The school counselors and others at the Carroll Consolidated School Corporation have worked hard to ensure that students have an accountable school counseling program that meets their academic, career, and citizenship development needs," she said. "These educators and community members are truly dedicated to the community's young people and are going the 'extra mile' to help students succeed."

Indiana Department of Education School Counselor Consultant Gina Woodward said, "Indiana's Gold Star Schools demonstrate the intensive work local communities are doing in collaboration with school counselors to remove the barriers to learning so that all students can find success in school."

For more information about the local initiative, contact Kristen Seward, Carroll guidance director.