You're Hired!

So, the EOGs are done, and my school did great! I'd like to think our awesome EOG pep rally pushed everybody over the top, but I know it's really due to all the hard work from our staff and students this year. I will say, though, the third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers rocked it out at the pep rally. We had everything from Uptown Funk to Maroon Five to my personal favorite, Meaghan Trainor.

This year I changed the words to "If Your Lips are Movin'" and my media specialist and I did a live performance of the song after an American Idol type skit involving other specialists and our administration. Imagine in your head--- "If your lips are movin', if your brains are movin', if your answers are groovin' then you'll fly, fly, fly baby!  YES, it was special!!! There is video evidence of this performance, which I am trying to edit so I can share it with you (too many kids' faces in it right now).  A post-performance photo is below of my media specialist and me (I'm the pencil.....ha!).

Luckily for all, I have not been hired as a singer, but I have been hired at a new job for next year. WHAT?! Yes, it's true!!! Big changes are coming for Groovy Mrs. Poovey as my family MOVES to the Charlotte area this summer.  My house is sold and I have a new job at a school that I am very excited to join!

Many school counselors, whether new grads or veterans, are in job search mode this time of year, and it can be a little nerve-wracking to interview for a new position. I have only interviewed two other times in the past 10 years and have been thankful to be offered positions both times. This third experience also went well, and I was truly impressed by the quality of questions my future administrator and co-counselor asked thanks to their fantastic central office school counseling personnel. If you are preparing for an interview, prep by brainstorming answers for some of the questions below (Not exact wording but paraphrased versions).

  1.  What are some examples of school-wide programs you  have been responsible for?

2.  Give an example of how you have addressed the academic domain this year? Personal/social domain? Career domain?

3.  What are examples of small group topics you have addressed this year?

4.  What small group counseling techniques do you use with students?

5. What are some examples of topics you have addressed in classroom guidance this year?

6. What bullying interventions do you implement?

7.  How do you motivate students to be career and college ready?

8.  What's your vision for your school counseling program

I also had to give responses to two hypothetical situations involving crisis situations and how I would handle them at the school.  There were many more questions, but those are the ones that stood out the most.  It was the best interview to hire a school counselor that I have ever been a part of, no matter whether I was the one interviewing or being interviewed. Kudos to them because they really know who they are getting as a school counselor!  

If you have any other interview or resume questions, feel free to contact me while it is fresh on my mind and GOOD LUCK to those who are job searching!

Happy Counseling! ~ Angela