Nashville schools enrolls 32 counselors in Ayers online professional development
Janel Shoun-Smith |
Metro Nashville Public Schools has contracted to enroll 32 of its school counselors in Lipscomb University’s College Access Project, an online professional learning course hosted by the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation.
The College Access Project is a set of five eight-week online courses designed to combat the lack of college access mentoring skills among school counselors and other social service professionals who work with youth.
“Research demonstrates that of the approximately 400 master’s-level counseling programs nationwide, only about 40 offer for-credit courses in college counseling, and many of these may be electives. This means that very few school counselors receive this critical pre-professional training,” said Bob Obrohta, executive director of the Tennessee College Access and Success Network.
Obrohta’s organization partnered with the Ayers Institute in 2013 to develop the College Access Project, which was launched early the next year.
“Young people need knowledgeable adults to help them see themselves as college-bound, to search for the right college and to successfully apply for admission and financial aid so they can be successful,” he said. “The ramifications from the college fit decision can be lifelong. Successful college students begin with well-equipped counselors and mentors.”
Officials at Metro Schools recognize the value of enhancing their school counselors’ college mentoring skills. Thanks to a state grant, the school system is sending its counselors this fall to complete the online courses. The MNPS cohort began taking classes Aug. 3.
“Research clearly shows that school counselors, when properly trained and consistently available to students and parents, can be a highly effective group of professionals who positively impact students’ college and career aspirations. Metro Schools is committed to providing our counselors the best training and resources so that they can effectively advise students in the college-going process,” said Nicole Cobb, director of school counseling at MNPS.
“We know this process starts as early as kindergarten so our cohort represents elementary, middle and high school counselors. This initiative ties directly to the Metro Schools’ K-12 College and Career strategic plan,” she said.
Those who complete all five strands can also qualify to receive three hours of graduate credit that can be used toward a master’s degree.
The online strands cover the non-academic factors of entering college, with topics such as creating a college-going culture, the college admissions process, paying for college, working with young people and ethics of college access counseling.
Since its inception, the College Access Project has enrolled 92 students from counties throughout Tennessee including Knox, Bradley and Green.
“We know college access mentoring requires specific skills and knowledge that are rarely, if ever, formally taught,” said Deborah Boyd, interim dean of Lipscomb’s College of Education, home of the Ayers Institute. “Our goal is to build a cohort of college access leaders across the state, equipped with the tools to be agents of change in their schools and communities.”