There are so many ways in which Lamplighter can help a school. There is no formula or set way in which Lamplighter can best be utilized. There are always novel arrangements and interesting ways in which we can support the work of college counseling and those ancillary to the work. What follows are a handful of ways in which we have been used recently. The names and identities are protected because it is a staple of Lamplighter working arrangements to maintain confidentiality.
Abby
Abby is new to college counseling. She has no experience in the field and wants to make sure that she is staying on top of her work. She is looking for some guidance and perspective on this new profession. Solution: She meets virtually with a mentor for Lamplighter once per week for an hour to discuss her work and her challenges. They talk about everything from designing the school profile to how to write counselor letters of recommendation.
Brett
Brett is operating in a one-person office. He has some experience, and while he has many supportive colleagues at his school, he does not have anyone who understands his profession. He is looking for camaraderie and support. Solution: Throughout the year, as Brett feels compelled, he reaches out to his mentor at Lamplighter for meetings and updates. Their discussions range from supporting faculty through the recommendation writing process through tactics for working with students. His Lamplighter mentor also provides proofreading services for his letters of recommendation.
Cari
Cari is a head of school and has no real college counseling experience or background. She trusts her college counseling office and has a strong relationship with them, but she is looking for how best to support them and to grow her understanding of their work. Solution: Cari has arranged for Lamplighter to work with both her and her college counseling office to develop programming, understanding, and communication, a dynamic that includes routine meetings with each group. In addition to their individual meetings, they also come together regularly to discuss salient topics such as, for example, the admissions process and the various components expected of students in their applications.
Dan
Dan is an administrator facing a lot of parent and Board questions and scrutiny about college counseling. The general perspective is that college counseling is not doing enough. He is looking for an outside perspective and guidance for how to combat these challenges. Solution: Dan has arranged for mentors from Lamplighter to consult with him and to meet with parents and the Board to answer questions and to assuage their anxieties. The Lamplighter consultants also meet with and advise the college counseling office at Dan’s school. Lamplighter has hosted parent Q&A sessions as well as provided reports for the Board evaluating the performance of the office.
Everett is an administrator responsible for hiring a new college counselor for his team. He wants to hire the right fit for the office and to support the new hire. Solution: Everett meets regularly with Lamplighter to review candidates and then coordinates with Lamplighter to participate in the interview process. Lamplighter has also worked with the rest of the office and several recruiting firms to identify the ideal candidate.
Everett
Fern is a director of college counseling looking to grow her office and develop team cohesiveness. She is looking for a team mentality and for opportunities to best serve her school. Solution: She and her team meet and collectively with consultants from Lamplighter on a regular basis to grow their capacities as a team and as teammates.
Fern
Giovanni is a more seasoned college counselor, and his school has recently been through a reaccreditation process that resulted in some recommendations for the college counseling program. Solution: Giovanni has partnered with Lamplighter to produce a selection of responses to the accreditation report, including many new ideas to address the selection of identified areas for improvement.