As a school counselor, asking questions is a big part of my job. I ask students questions to get them thinking, to guide them toward solutions, and to support building critical thinking skills and self-awareness.
But these days, I’m finding I have questions of my own.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for someone with a master’s degree is $80,180.
So why are many Arizona school counselors — who are required to have a master’s degree — making just $50,000 a year?
Why am I, as someone with a master’s degree and seven years of experience, working four jobs? I’m a full-time school counselor, I do the after-school program, I nanny and I Door Dash. That’s what it takes for me to survive. Not live, certainly not thrive — just survive. Why can’t I make it on just my salary?
According to the American School Counselor Association, the appropriate ratio of students to counselors is 250 to 1. So why are so many of my colleagues trying to support 500 or more students as the only counselor on a given campus?
According to recent polling, student mental health is a top concern for many Arizonans. So why are so many school counselors — who are specifically trained to respond to student mental health needs and assist families in finding mental health resources — spending our time completing plans to support students with disabilities, known as 504s? The ASCA calls 504s “an inappropriate activity for school counselors.” Why don’t our schools have enough special education teachers to make sure this critical documentation gets done?
And, most importantly: Why do any of us think the current status quo is acceptable?
I spoke up at a recent Tucson Unified School District board meeting as part of my work with the newly formed TUSD counselor committee. My comments went viral online; at last count, more than 2 million people have watched the video. It’s clear I am not the only one asking these questions.
I could sit back and wait for answers, but I know better than to think that will work. Instead, I’m organizing alongside my coworkers to demand change. As members of the Tucson Education Association, TUSD counselors are calling on the Tucson Unified School District to comply with the requirements laid out by the American School Counselor Association, including a ratio of 250 students or less per counselor.
As counselors, we must follow ASCA ethics and standards to keep our credentials; it seems only fair that our school district do the same.
And as members of the Arizona Education Association, we’re calling on Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma to make sure school counselors are included in any proposed raise at the state level.
School counselors play a vital role in supporting student success, and schools would be a very different place without us. The same thing is true of everyone on a school campus. All of us — teachers, social workers, school counselors, classroom aides, and bus drivers — deserve respect, fair treatment and pay that allows us to thrive.
Every Arizonan will tell you they want kids in this state to get a great education. That means qualified teachers and reasonable class sizes. It means having a trusted school counselor on campus who can offer support and guidance. It means school buses that show up on time and air conditioning that works.
Right now, as we work to deliver the great education that our students deserve, too many educators are juggling four jobs, trying to cover up the cracks in a broken system. It is time we said enough.
If you’re an educator, join your union. If you’re already a union member, get involved. And if you’re a parent, student, or community member, support us. Because we all deserve better than the broken status quo.
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