Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are celebrating National School Counseling Week, from February 3-7, by recognizing the efforts of their school counselors. The theme for this year is “Helping Students Thrive,” highlighting the essential role counselors play in student development across the district.

Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School's counseling program has been awarded the Program of Promise designation by the Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA). This recognition is given to only seven schools in the state this year. To earn this honor, schools must demonstrate three specific interventions implemented during the previous school year.

The team at Reagan High School, comprising Dan Buschmann, Sarah Dubey, Lauren Eierman, Kon Knueppel, and Sarah Moore, identified an equity gap in academic achievement among students. They worked with teachers, parents, and case managers to significantly reduce this gap within one semester. In fall 2023, they found that 12% of 9th graders had two or more failing grades in the first quarter, with a higher percentage among students of color.

Through social and academic intervention groups (SAIGs), students received weekly sessions on time management and study skills. These efforts resulted in an 84% reduction in failing grades. The program also focused on self-advocacy skills to help students communicate effectively with teachers.

Sarah Moore noted that many students hesitate to ask for help despite needing it. She emphasized that confidence is crucial for empowering students. The application process for the Program of Promise recognition helped strengthen the counselors' teamwork by pushing them to be data-driven and evidence-based.

The first year of high school can be challenging for students as they adjust to new environments and expectations. Eierman explained that having additional support from counselors can ease this transition by helping students manage their workload effectively.

Following last year's success, Reagan's counselors have continued their academic SAIGs into this year. They expanded their focus to include special education students and those earning multiple Ds on report cards. The groups now meet for nine weeks instead of six to provide extended support.

Later in February, with MPS School Counseling Manager Ophelia King's support, Reagan's counseling team will share their progress toward becoming a data-driven Program of Promise with colleagues across the district.

The Program of Promise award recognizes data-driven comprehensive school counseling programs in Wisconsin. To qualify, schools must submit a detailed accountability report showing their impact on student development across various domains. Successful programs will be honored during National School Counselor Week at a WSCA breakfast event on February 7.