Principals versus Counselors: Resolving Tensions from Different Practice Models.

Abstract

School counselors work closely with school The real potential for conflict between principals. Both interact with students, counselors and principals, in my opinion, teachers, parents, and the community is that counselors and principals use dif across the entire school program. They ferent paradigms. I say this after working have separate as well as shared responprofessionally in each role. I have spent 9 sibilities that make schools successful learnyears as a high school and middle school ing places. counselor, 6 years as a central office direc Cole (1991) compared counseling and adtor of guidance, and 2 years as a middle ministrativerdes, noting that each profession's school assistant principal. I have served as different training and responsibilities made president of my state counseling associa conflict inevitable. Moracco and Gray tion. Although it is neither accurate nor fair (1983) identified Counselor-Principal to oversimplify or stereotype all principals Professional Relationships as one of six facand all counselors, I will risk generalizing tors on their Counselor Occupational Stress about each profession to point out ways Inventory, acknowledging the potential thateachviewstheschoolworlddifferently conflict in this relationship. In addition, and how each has something to offer the Moracco, Butcke, and McEwen's (1984) other, study found that counselors perceive that administrators do not understand, appreciate, or empathize with counselors' efforts. THE PURPOSES OF SCHOOL COUNSELING AND ADMINISTRATION