School counselors recognized for supporting student success in Redlands Unified

REDLANDS, Calif. – Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) celebrated National School Counseling Week from Feb. 3-7, highlighting the critical role of school counselors in student success.

Why it matters: With a team of 59 school counselors and eight academic case carriers, RUSD’s counseling program provides essential guidance in academics, social-emotional development, and career planning.

Redlands Coordinated Supports and Services (RCSS) oversees these efforts, offering consultation and direct services to address students’ behavioral and mental health needs. The department specializes in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and social-emotional learning, ensuring students receive individualized support to help them thrive.

Summer Garcia, an elementary counselor at Bryn Mawr, explained the broad scope of school counselors’ responsibilities.

"We serve the entire school and support students and families on every level. Our roles as counselors range from greeting students in the morning to helping families with basic needs like food, clothing, and housing," Garcia said in an email.

The district follows the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, which focuses on academic achievement, career readiness and social-emotional growth.

"We collaborate with teachers, administrators and outside agencies to help students overcome barriers. Advocating for students and being an agent of change knows no limits," Garcia said.

Meeting the Challenges of Counseling

Despite their vital role, school counselors face challenges, including high student-to-counselor ratios. Garcia said these numbers can impact their ability to provide support.

"Currently, we have some additional funding through LCAP to support designated sites, but it is common for one counselor to serve more than 600 students at the elementary level," Garcia said.

In elementary schools, many students seek help with conflict resolution. Counselors use restorative practices to help students repair relationships and build problem-solving skills.

At the middle and high school levels, counselors also assist students with academic planning, mental health concerns and career exploration.

Amanda “Mandy” Ramirez, a middle school counselor at Clement, emphasized that their responsibilities extend beyond academics.

"Our responsibilities range from providing emotional support and crisis intervention to guiding students in their academic and career paths," Ramirez said. "I wish more people knew how much school counselors do beyond academics."

Supporting At-Promise Students

A key part of RUSD’s support system is the Academic Case Carrier (ACC) Program, launched in 2016 to assist at-promise students, including those experiencing homelessness, foster youth and justice-involved students.

Academic case carriers provide individualized mentoring, monitor academic progress, and connect students with resources to keep them on track toward graduation.

These efforts have led to measurable success. Garcia and her co-counselor, Adali Quinonez, set a goal last year to reduce chronic absenteeism at their school. Their collaborative approach, which included home visits and partnerships with families, administrators and transportation services, led to an 8% decrease in chronic absences.

"On one visit, we met a parent at a laundromat to discuss her child's attendance and how we could support her," Garcia said. "She was grateful that we met her where she was."

A Passion for Advocacy

For many counselors, the motivation to continue their work comes from seeing their impact on students’ lives.

Ramirez, who was inspired to pursue counseling by a desire to help students overcome barriers, said the most rewarding part of her job is watching students achieve their goals.

"Being able to provide guidance—whether academic, social or emotional—is incredibly fulfilling for me," Ramirez said. "Knowing that I can be a source of encouragement and change in their lives keeps me inspired and committed to being a school counselor."

As RUSD celebrates National School Counseling Week, the district recognizes the invaluable contributions of its school counselors and academic case carriers. Their work continues to shape students' lives, helping them build resilience, overcome challenges and prepare for success beyond the classroom.