Empowering Counselors to Empower Students: Strategies for Success

Posted by Laura Amendola on March 31, 2025

School Counselors are often crucial to student success. Whether students are looking to go to college or enter straight into the workforce post-graduation, counselors are there to help them determine their next steps. They also are there to support students who may learn differently or need additional help. For educational institutions, businesses they’re partnered with, and policymakers, it is vital to listen to what school counselors have to say in order to get the adults of tomorrow where they need to be.

The vital role of counselors in student success

Some may think a school counselor’s only responsibility is to help students determine where to go to college. There’s much more to it than that, however. Counselors’ duties include:

Academic support
College and career guidance
Social and emotional support
Crisis intervention and conflict resolution
Promoting equity and inclusion
Collaboration with parents, teachers, and administrators
Handling administrative tasks

Student needs are becoming increasingly complex due to technological advancements, mental health struggles, career readiness in a changing society, as well as run of the mill academic struggles. These struggles can follow students into higher education. In fact, a recent survey found that 73% of students believe they are more likely to graduate or earn a degree as a result of offered mental health services at their institution. This support can start at the high school level. Counselors help navigate these challenges with students, as well as bridge the gap between students, educators, and external support systems.

Key concerns counselors face today

The increasing demand for mental health support in schools is bringing this piece of a school counselor’s job to the forefront. According to schoolcounselor.org, counselors are trained to recognize developmental concerns and mental health risk factors and to provide counseling. While school counselors don’t diagnose students, it is within the scope of their job to provide referrals and advocate for student needs.

Mental health is not the only struggle school counselors face, however. High student-to-counselor ratios, the need for better tools and resources to prepare students for the future, challenges in ensuring equity and accessibility are prominent, and administrative burdens that take them away from supporting students are all concerns school counselors face in their roles.

Why businesses and educational institutions should listen

Student success is often directly linked to workforce readiness. Many businesses struggle to find workers with the necessary skills for modern jobs. Counselors can provide real-time feedback on student preparedness, helping businesses tailor workforce development programs. Counselors can help students develop soft skills and adaptability, which employers often value as crucial skills. Furthermore, counselors can help open students’ eyes to what careers are out there and can even set up internships or work studies with businesses, benefitting both students and business needs.

For educational institutions, listening to counselors' concerns and recommendations can not only contribute to student success but can also increase graduation rates. Setting up collaborations or partnerships between educational institutions and businesses can show many students who otherwise may have dropped out what could be waiting for them post-graduation.

By actively engaging with school counselors and addressing their concerns, businesses and educational institutions can work together to create a stronger, more prepared workforce.

Strategies to address counselors’ concerns and support students

There are many strategies to address counselors’ concerns in order to support students. These include:

Investing in scalable mental health solutions
Reducing administrative burdens
Developing career readiness programs
Providing professional development and support for counselors

By investing in mental health initiatives, streamlining administrative tasks, aligning education with workforce needs, and providing professional development, businesses and educational institutions can ensure that counselors have the tools they need to help students thrive academically, emotionally, and professionally.

Help school counselors empower students through Penn Foster

The insight school counselors provide can be vital to student success and the future of education and workforce development depends on strategic collaboration. Listening to counselors and helping to supply them with the tools they need to adequately do their job can enable businesses, educational institutions, and policymakers to provide meaningful support that benefits both students and the future workforce. Additionally, collaboration with an educational partner like Penn Foster that will work with school counselors can be a great step towards achieving this success. By being able to offer alternative education solutions to students who need them, counselors can better serve the learners they work with, ultimately benefitting the school. Request more information or contact our training experts to see if Penn Foster is the solution you need.