Fariña Lauds Guidance Counselors, Plans Modest Boost in Ranks

Guidance counselors are often the ones who hold the hands of not just crying children but their parents, too. They coach reluctant teenagers back to class, and take young children in the throes of a tantrum out of class.

As Chancellor Carmen Fariña, a former teacher and principal put it, "school counselors have saved my life more than once."

On Wednesday, Fariña presented 28 counselors with yellow roses and plaques at a ceremony held at the Department of Education headquarters.  Fariña read each recipient's name and summed up what made them so special, whether it was creating a "safe haven" or helping English Language Learners.

Fariña and her team said they're especially proud of their work with guidance counselors this year. They hired an additional 250 counselors, and Fariña carved out a new office with enhanced support services, overseen by Lois Herrera, the chief executive officer of the Office of Safety and Youth Development.

"We had several years of a hiring freeze on counselors and so this is a very exciting time that we're adding," she said.

The executive budget for the next school year included money for 63 more counselors. Herrera said she's also counting on $4 million in grants to hire 50 substance abuse experts.

With approximately 3,000 counselors and 1,200 social workers, she said the city now has 260 staffers per student - close to the recommended ratio of 250:1. That's a system-wide average; critics have said there are too many schools without enough help for students in crisis.

Those honored on Wednesday included Mesmin Charles, who helps families enroll children through the Brooklyn Borough Welcome Center. He said the job is hardest when he can't honor every request. "They have to go to specific schools and we don't have the seats," he said, adding that he then has to find them seats in other schools.

Kim Verboys, who works with special education students in the Lehman High School campus, said she loved her job. She recalled working with a child who's emotionally disturbed and considered dropping out of school.

"Right now she's in a shelter and she still comes to school every day," she said. "Every day, she's there. This year she will graduate with a local diploma."