Red Lion launches career success council

Counseling for Career Success!

Over the course of the 2015-16 school year, school counselors in the Red Lion Area School District worked diligently to further develop, implement, sustain and evaluate the district’s K-12 counseling program to meet Pennsylvania’s new Chapter 339 requirements. Counselors across all grade spans scrutinized their use of time and the strengths and needs of the current counseling program, developed a delivery and management system, and created an advisory council comprised of stakeholders outside of the counseling department. The counselors’ work culminated on Sept. 28, 2016, when local business owners, community members, post-secondary representatives, parents and students participated in the creation of the district’s first Counseling for Career Success Advisory Council. The inception of the council was to strengthen the partnership between the Red Lion Area School District’s counseling staff and community in order to fulfill the district’s mission to prepare all students to reach their greatest potential, thus becoming responsible and productive citizens. Counselors showcased how comprehensive and integrated curriculum reinforced career exploration and job readiness skills to meet the varied needs of our students. Additionally, communication between the district and the community was strengthened to provide additional opportunities for students to explore career pathways and to obtain valuable job readiness skills. After the success of this first session, a second Counseling for Career Success Advisory Council is slated for the spring of 2017 to continue highlighting district progress towards establishing a fully operational Career Center to benefit students, families and the community.