The school counselor works collaboratively with mainstream teachers, specialists, assistants, administrators, and the resource teacher to resolve emotional, social, or behavioral issues thus giving the student a clearer sense of direction and focus. We identify students who need support either in the social-emotional or academic spheres. The school counselor performs these duties by:

• Maintaining an open door policy which facilitates communication among the stakeholders, and culturally appropriate intervention
• Seeking to intervene in a culturally appropriate manner
• Listening
• Conducting observations and working one-on-one or in groups with students who are experiencing difficulties in or out of school to help resolve or deal constructively with problems
• Consulting regularly with principals to monitor student progress and school climate
• Integrating life skills, social skills, study skills, and research skills in the curriculum either through structured group or individual lessons
• Managing the IISA learning support efforts and internal referral process
• Providing workshops for early identification of learning problems
• Providing teachers with developmentally appropriate strategies
• Working with trained personnel to diagnostic testing, when appropriate
• Working with the resource teacher in the oversight of Individualized Educational Plans (IEP), when needed
• Managing the external referral process and directing parents to specialists in the community for issues that are beyond the counselor’s level of training and expertise
• Reading and interpreting the reports submitted by outside agencies
• Cooperating with teachers in implementing effective accommodations and strategies
• Appraising data for follow-up services
• Collaborating with principals in the counseling of individuals and/or families as a follow-up to significant and/or chronic disciplinary issues
• Confidential individual counseling for particular concerns or relationships
• Helping interpret results of school-wide standardized tests (ACER; SRI; MAP) to inform instruction
• Seeking professional development opportunities in order to deliver effective services

Student services such as Learning Support (except ESL) are managed by the school counselor in a responsive manner as necessitated by events, student circumstances, or teacher referrals.

IISA Special Needs Policy: IISA is not equipped or staffed to educate students with severe learning disabilities, physical or mental handicaps, or emotional problems. The Board reserves the right to exclude students whose needs could not be adequately met, and authorizes the School Head to exclude students on that basis, including ICARDA sponsored students.

IISA Diagnostic Testing: The parent(s) understand and agree that individual academic and/or diagnostic testing may be administered as necessary to their child. Parents will be notified of such testing. If the testing cannot be done at IISA, the parents will be referred to an external educational psychologist. The cost of the same will be borne by the parents.