Standard 7

Standard 7: Engages in professional growth.

a. Demonstrates habits and skills of continuous inquiry and learning.
Description of Artifact: Iowa School Counselor Association Membership

Data Source: Counselor

Interpretation: One way that I demonstrate continuous learning is through my membership with the Iowa School Counselor Association. I receive frequent e-mails and mailed publications. This provides continuous inquiry and learning specific to school counseling.

b. Works collaboratively to improve professional practice and student learning. 
Description of Artifact: B-F Counselor Meeting Notes
Data Source: Counselor

Interpretation: One way I collaborate with others to improve my counseling is through our monthly district counseling meetings. Once a month during our PLC time, the 4 district counselors meet to discuss current issues and address district counseling/mental health needs.

c. Applies research, knowledge, and skills from professional development opportunities to improve practice. 
Description of Artifact: Attendance at ISCA (Iowa School Counselor Association) Conference
Data Source: Counselor

Interpretation: Attending a professional conference is evidence that I am looking for new research, knowledge, and skills in my field of school counseling. At the ISCA conference I attended in November 2012, I was able to attend presentations on ways to promote diversity at school, legal issues in counseling, and solution-focused school counseling.
 
d. Establishes and implements professional development plans based upon the teacher needs aligned to the Iowa Teaching Standards and district/building student achievement goals. 
Description of Artifact: Individual Career Development Plan
Data Source: Counselor

Interpretation: In October, I collaborated with the other school counselor at my building in the development of my individual career development plan. As indicated on the artifact, the general focus of the plan is to increase math problem solving abilities and skills for a targeted group of 2nd grade students (these are the students I work with during Anderson's reading intervention/math workshop time).

e. Provides an analysis of student learning and growth based on teacher created tests and authentic measures as well as any standardized and district-wide tests.
Description of Artifact: Before and After activity
Data Source: Counselor

Interpretation: I use this Before and After activity when teaching a 1st grade lesson titled: RUTHIE AND THE (NOT SO) TEENY TINY LIE. Students complete the "before" section prior to reading the book and their responses give me guidance as to what areas I should zero-in on while reading. The "after" section is completed following the completion of the story and then as a class, we discuss what we have learned and which of our answers have changed.