The Guidance and Counseling Department of Pine Tree ISD, following the guidelines established by the Texas Legislature, requires all school counselors to assume responsibilities for working with school faculty and staff, students, parents and community to plan, implement and evaluate a Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling program. The Guidance and Counseling program will include:

• A Guidance Curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential.

• A Responsive Services component to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal concerns or problems put the student’s continued educational, career, personal or social development at risk.

• An Individual Planning system to guide a student as the student plans, monitors and manages the student’s own educational, career (including interests and career objectives), personal and social development; and academic success.

• Indirect Student Services to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the community in promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students.

Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling programs are vital to the achievement of excellence in education for all students. The Texas Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program is an integral part of each school’s total educational program. Developmental Guidance and Counseling programs organize resources to meet the priority needs of students through four delivery system components. The identified needs of all students in Pre K through grade twelve provide the basis for the Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling program, delivered through Guidance Curriculum and Individual Planning system component. The identified special needs of some students provide the basis for the Responsive Services component. The identified needs of the school system itself are met through the System Support component.

In order to achieve the goals of the Guidance and Counseling Department, PTISD counselors spend time counseling with students in their offices, provide guidance services to students in classrooms, confer with staff and parents to promote the best interests of students and serve as a liaison to outside agencies.

School counselors hold a professional certificate in counseling issued by the Texas Education Agency on the recommendation of the college or university where the counselor has obtained a master's degree in counseling or psychology. Such programs prepare counselors to work with students of all ages and grade levels.

All counseling relationships are established and operated under a professional code of ethics. PTISD counselors are required by state law and their own professional code of ethics to report any form of child abuse or endangerment whether to self or others. To the extent possible under legal and ethical guidelines, PTISD counselors protect the privacy rights of children and their families.

PTISD counselors are dedicated professionals, who will work diligently with students and others to assist the students in achieving important developmental goals. PTISD counselors follow accepted standards of practices for the profession.

If a parent/guardian has any questions regarding the counselor or counseling services, they are asked to call the school counselor or one of the school administrators in the building the student(s) attends.