Counselor Chat Podcast

177. Creating SMART Goals for Your School Counseling Program

September 9, 2026·35 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

A strong counseling SMART goal does more than meet a requirement—it gives your program direction, connects your work to student needs, and helps others understand the impact school counselors make.In this episode, we explore how to create a meaningful, data-informed SMART goal and use your annual administrator conference to gain support, clarify expectations, and align your counseling program with school and district priorities.You’ll learn:How to move from an activity-based goal to a student outcome goalWhat data to consider when identifying a program priorityHow to use the annual administrator conference to build administrator buy-inWays your goal can help advocate for your role and appropriate use of timeHow to map your goal across the school yearWhy participation, student standards, and achievement data all matterHow regular checkpoints help you adjust your plan before the end of the yearYour SMART goal shouldn’t be a document you write and forget. It can become a roadmap for your program, a foundation for collaboration, and a powerful way to show how school counseling supports student success.ASCA National Model 5th Edition Free DownloadGrab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!Connect with Carol:TpT StoreCounseling Essentials WebsiteInstagramFacebookElementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook GroupCaught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook GroupHigh School Counselor Connection Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Perks Membership

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