School counselors in Palm Beach County have a long history of supporting the social/emotional, academic, and career development of all students. Through comprehensive school counseling programs and evidence-based practice, the “whole-student” receives the core, supplemental, and intensive counseling they need to become successful young adults.

Over the past seven years, the School Counseling Team has taken a proactive and strategic approach to supporting growing all students through involvement with key stakeholders, professional development, and special projects, including:

• Adoption of the American School Counselor Association’s Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student. By teaching, counseling, and coaching growth mindsets, self-efficacy, learning strategies, social skills, and self-management skills, we are helping students to develop the key ingredients for young adult success and wellness.

• Exposing students to a wide variety of college-career readiness interventions, K-12. Capstone opportunities include the College-Career Fair held annually October.  This event has grown to include over 180 colleges, universities, and representatives of the Armed Forces; and provide essential information to over 3,800 students and family members. The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Recruitment Tour is designed to connect college-ready seniors with public, private community, and university educational options. Over the past 6 years this event has garnered increasing amounts of scholarship offers ranging from $620,000 in 2014 to $9.275 million in 2018.

• Answering the call for high quality professional development for school counselors related to trauma informed schools, social/emotional development, mental health and wellness. In addition, the Annual Student Mental Health and Wellness Conference has grown in its size, effectiveness, and impact since its inception in 2014.  The 5^th Annual Student Mental Health & Wellness Conference met the training needs of over 279 attendees with 100% positive rating for conference event.