Page 22 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Changing the “Success Narrative”

in the World of School Counseling

By Joe Palumbo, Director of School Counseling, Keyport Public Schools

Ten years ago, Dr. Alvin magazines, stacks of “Best Of” books that they were leaving school. As each

Freeman (Assistant from The Princeton Review, and CD- Thanksgiving approached, I would
become more on-edge as students
ROMs that promised to demystify the
Superintendent of the Long FAFSA. That was it! In my world as returned to high school to visit and
Branch Public School a school counselor, success equaled explain why things “just didn’t work
one thing: college.
out.” Sometimes the school itself was
District) sat across from For the next several years, I did every- not the best fit, or sometimes it was a
me on my third interview thing possible to promote, guide, push, bad roommate, mismatched major, or
lack of sustainable funds. I felt like a
for their school counseling and sell this pathway to “success.” As failure as a counselor. I was complicit in
a new school counselor, there was
no greater rush than having student helping these students choose a path
position. Dr. Freeman looked me after student run into my office waving that perhaps was not well researched,
in the eyes and told me that he wanted their acceptance letters. In fact, I was planned for, or wanted. In addition to
to have the best and most “successful” so proud of their achievements that I those returning home, my data revealed
guidance department in the state. I would hang each letter on my door and that I had a subset of students that did
was completely exhilarated, albeit on the walls of my office. not populate my Naviance application
clueless as to how to achieve this pie chart, or turn green on my college
goal. I set to work right away to help As the years went on, two trends application tracking spreadsheet. They
make my new department and my new started to elucidate the other side of did not score well on — or even take
school a “success.” Walking into my this “success” coin. These trends told — the SATs, nor did they complete
new office, I was greeted by the typical a dark story: one of biases, lack of their FAFSA. These students were not
school counseling decor: college inclusion, and very little actual career at all interested in college or any of
pennants from four year institutions guidance. First, I was getting calls, the information I had about it. These
near and far, piles of college guide visits, and emails from former students

Educational Viewpoints -20- Spring 2020