Guidance Counselor Head Lauren Sandor is a vital part of CPHS. As a counselor, Sandor works with everyone, parents, teachers, administration, and students to foster a supportive environment. As the head of the guidance department, Sandor has a lot of things to take care of. There is a numerous amount of work in the guidance department that goes unseen.
Sandors’ career path shows how plans can change. She first aimed to be a teacher, but she did not connect with education classes in college.
“I originally went to college to be a teacher. I really liked working in schools and being in school. I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but I got into education classes in college, and I didn’t like them. I went to a social work major, and when I was doing that, I figured out you could do social work in schools. I thought I wanted to do that. Then a friend of my parents was talking to me, and she recommended that I go to get my master’s in school counseling so that I can be a guidance counselor; so I did,” Sandor said.
Being a guidance counselor requires strong organizational skills and leadership abilities. Working as the head of the Guidance department, Sandor manages a team of eight counselors and three social workers. She needs to coordinate information and resources while maintaining her own caseload of students. This responsibility can prove quite a challenge.
“It’s a lot of juggling, there are a lot of balls, you know, in the air, a lot of plates going everywhere. We have a team, there are eight counselors and three social workers. I’m always trying to get us all the information, and all the stuff that we need to be able to do our jobs. My caseload is a little bit lighter than everybody else’s, so that I can make sure that we’re getting all the other stuff that we need and helping organize us and get ready for everything.
Working as a guidance counselor in high school means that there are day-to-day changes all the time. There’s no regular everyday routine, but Sandor and the other counselors come to school with a positive attitude, ready to help students. Sandor’s team of colleagues provides support, so they can support students.
“Every day is different, we are really lucky here. We have three social workers who help us so much with the social emotional aspect. But we do still have students that we see, sometimes on, emergency basis, something happens, and they need help, so we’ll help them with that. But every day is different. Every kid is going through something different. We just try to be as supportive as we can and as helpful as we can,” Sandor said.
There are challenges that come with being a guidance counselor. With laws about education and the school system changing, counselors are adapting the best they can. Students, like anyone else, face problems. and Sandor sympathizes with them.
“Obviously, it’s hard to keep track of all the diplomas, especially the new diplomas coming and the current diplomas that we have, all that stuff can become difficult. But I think it’s always when somebody comes to you, and they’re going through something and they’re upset, and you want to help them. And sometimes there’s not a lot that I can do, but they are so upset, so it always hurts my heart seeing them upset,” Sandor said.
Despite the challenges, there are many rewarding moments that make being a guidance counselor worthwhile. Sandor finds satisfaction in witnessing her students achieve their goals. When students share their accomplishments with her, it reinforces the meaningful impact that guidance counselors can have on students’ lives.
“I think it’s always the best when a student comes down and tells me something that they’ve accomplished or something that they didn’t think that they could do and they’ve done it. They’re really excited, or they’re excited because they got into college, or they’re excited they got a job that they really wanted, or they got into the military. Whatever it may be, it’s always nice when they share those things with me. Maybe the counselors or I have helped a student out with that, then maybe they’ll take that into the community, and they’ll be more confident in what they want to do,” Sandor said.
Sandor had wanted to work in schools and make an impact on children. She became a guidance counselor and is able to work closely one-on-one with students, talking about their social, emotional, and academic needs and goals. There are challenges to being a counselor, but the positive impact Sandor hopes to make on the community outweighs the challenges. Sander gets to be a vital part in helping students plan their future and their lives, making a substantial impact overall.
