Evaluations and Feedback

What subject areas/issues did you wish you had more of an opportunity to learn about during the school counseling program?

From Summative Evaluation Assignment in EDC 599

• Would love to continue learning about restorative practices. Would also like more time on counseling theories and practices. These are core to all the work we do.
• Attendance, school politics, and educational law.
• I wish I would have had more opportunities to learn about teaching strategies and classroom management strategies to use in classroom lessons. I also wish I would have had more opportunities to practice parent communication and learn crisiscounseling skills and plans.
• I wish I had more of an opportunity to work with data and computer stuff. My supervisor did a lot of the data and computer stuff and I did not get to do a lot of the computer things.
• I would have liked to learn more about mental health disorders/ diagnosis. I am pleased that future cohorts will get that instruction!

What learning experiences/activities (i.e., guest speakers, panels, group work, videos, etc.) were most beneficial during the school counseling program?

From Summative Evaluation Assignment in EDC 599

• I found group work and discussions most beneficial. I enjoyed hearing about the experience of others throughout the program and learning about what they are doing compared to myself.
• The most beneficial activities for me were shadowing a school counselor at each level, QPR training from ADAMHS, panels of school counselors at different levels, and the sharing of resources throughout all classes.
• Counseling lab (triads/role playing).
• Running our own groups in group counseling class.
• Panels of guest speakers in class
• Honestly, all the hands-on projects were great, and I've used them all in my real job.
• I remember watching videos in the theories and techniques class was helpful to learn how the different counseling styles/techniques looked. Role plays were also helpful to practice counseling skills.

What ideas do you have for improving the school counseling program at UD?

• More opportunities to get in schools early on in the program, as well as opportunities to spend more time at different levels; the option to complete practicum and internship at different levels/schools.
• Allow/require students to go and observe each other at the different sites to get experience at each level, or require observations at all three levels (primary, middle, high school).
• I think having more opportunities to be in the school buildings and see school counseling in action would be helpful.

What has been most helpful in regard to your courses at UD?

(From Discussions During Fall and Spring Site Visits)

• Theories and Techniques in Counseling, Program Development, Lifespan, Practicum/Internship, and Introduction to School Counseling were all relevant without an overlap of information.
• Sharing experiences in Internship class, especially with those working in similar grade levels.
• Guest speakers in classes
• The passion of the instructors combined with generous resources and relevant guest speakers

What ideas do you have for improving the school counseling program at UD?

(From Discussions During Fall and Spring Site Visits)

• The Legal/Ethical course should be offered prior or during Practicum.
• The Crisis class needs to be longer and with greater emphasis on individual crises and Trauma-informed care/trauma work.
• Starting Practicum in the first year of the program.
• More on data tracking, case notes and goals for groups in the Program Development class.
• More exposure to graduation requirements in class
• Have a panel of high school students discuss what they see their school counselors for and what they wish their school counselor had more time for.
• Have students set a deadline for taking the OAE. Questions about counseling theories are on the OAE, but since it's taken in the first semester of the program, it would be good to review counseling theories later.

Additional Comments

(From Discussions During Fall and Spring Site Visits)

• Appreciated the care and support of the faculty.
• Appreciated the freedom, support and balance in the program.

2024 Feedback From School Counseling Site supervisors

What suggestions do you have for the University in terms of preparing students for Practicum/Internship and their future career in school counseling?

• More practical learning opportunities (speakers, people in the field and related services). rather than so much emphasis on the ASCA model (with the exception of ethics).
• How to communicate professionally in the field. Help interns see and work on communication with parents.
• More focus on the roles of teachers, administrators, school psychologists, social workers, and how they interface with the roles of the school counselor, especially in IAT, MTSS meetings.
• Develop a community resource bank, getting interns used to investigating resources that meet the needs of students and families and be able to refer them appropriately. Have a shared drive for interns during their field work for sharing the resources
• Bring in school counselors in your classes to discuss strategies that address various issues a school counselor will be called on the handle.
• Discuss how to address the needs of ELL students.

What suggestions do you have for the University in terms of preparing site supervisors?

• Remind site supervisors when evaluations and assignments are due

Additional Comments

• The program is well organized for students in regard to expectations.
• The site supervisor manual was great.
• Appreciate the flexibility of the university.
• Appreciated the communication from the clinical coordinator.
• Box Sign is frustrating to work with.
• The use of Box Sign is restricted by some school districts.