Let’s be honest—back-to-school season can feel like a whirlwind. But there’s one move that can make the whole year smoother: teaming up with teachers from the start.

In this episode of Counselor Chat, I'm walking you through simple and creative ways to build trust and connection with your teaching staff—without adding more stress to your plate.

You’ll learn:

• Why visibility and approachability are your superpowers
• What to include in a 1-page Counselor Cheat Sheet 📝
• How to use small gestures (like hand sanitizer and chocolate 🍫) to open big doors
• The power of asking, “What do your students need right now?”
• Creative ways to co-create lessons and build classroom calm corners
• Quick wins for consistent collaboration (hello, Coffee on a Cart ☕)

Whether you’re brand new or just ready for a fresh approach, this episode will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged to be the kind of teammate teachers rely on—and students benefit from most.

Links Mentioned:

Counselor Brochure Bundle

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join 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 Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership

Carol: You're listening to the Counselor Chat podcast, a show for school counselors looking for easy to implement strategies, how to tips, collaboration, and a little spark of joy.

I'm Carol Miller, your host. I'm a full time school counselor and the face behind counseling essentials. I'm all about creating simplified systems, data driven practices, and using creative approaches to engage students.

If you're looking for a little inspiration to help help you make a big impact on student growth and success, you're in the right place. Because we're better together.

Ready to chat?

Let's dive in.

Hey there counselor friends.

Welcome back to another episode of Counselor Chat. This is the podcast where we turn coffee chaos and some counselor creativity into practical, doable strategies for your school counseling program.

For those of you who are just joining us for the first time, I'm your host, Carol Miller. I'm a school counselor, a content creator, a conference host,

and hopefully your biggest cheerleader as you navigate the start of another school year.

Today's episode, it's all about how to team up.

And no, I'm not talking about forming an Avengers style squad to take on hallway drama or cafeteria crisis,

although that does sound kind of amazing.

I'm talking about teaming up with teachers from day one.

Because here's the truth.

You can have the best small groups,

some killer lesson plans, and the most organized color coded calendar on the planet.

But if the teachers they don't trust you,

don't know what you do or think, you're just the person who covers their class when they have a dentist appointment.

It's going to be a long year.

So today we're diving into how to build trust with teachers,

what collaboration can look like in real life,

and some fun, doable ideas that'll have you going from mystery person in the counseling office to the go to teammate faster than you can say multi tiered system of supports.

So let's dive in first.

Let's just call it like it is.

Teachers are busy,

we're busy.

Everyone's running around with this giant to do list taped to their brain.

So collaboration, it doesn't just happen.

It's something that we have to be really intentional about.

Because the reality is teachers have the closest pulse on student needs day to day.

They're often the first ones to notice the changes in behavior,

dips in academic performance,

or social issues brewing under the surface.

And when we build trust with teachers, they're more likely to give us meaningful referrals,

invite us in for classroom lessons,

support our small groups and and advocate for our role with Admin and families.

The key is to be visible and be approachable.

Your mission on day one,

be seen,

be friendly.

Be the human equivalent of a cup of coffee and a high five.

And here's how you can do this.

Pop into classrooms that first week just to say hi.

Not to hand out forms or schedule lessons,

just be a friendly face and hang out at dismissal or arrival.

You'll see who's struggling, you'll meet families, and you'll bump into teachers in a really natural way.

You can also drop off a counselor survival kit to classrooms. Maybe a fun little bag with mints, sticky notes, a you've got this note and maybe chocolate. Okay, always chocolate.

And here's an example. At the start of the year,

I once gave teachers a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer with a tag that said, I can't sanitize everything,

but I can help support your students.

I mean, it got a laugh and it opened the doors for real conversations later.

I have to admit, the year I did this, I got that hand sanitizer super cheap. I mean it was like 10 cents a little bottle.

I don't know if I can still find the same deal,

but you could always look on Amazon because you never know what you're going to find there.

But something like that can be super fun, super easy and really help with those conversations.

Okay, key number two is to communicate clearly and quickly because teachers want to know, what do you do?

How do students see you?

What's the referral process and how you can help them.

So you don't want to wait until that staff meeting where they go over the copier policy in excruciating detail.

Send out a little one page counselor cheat sheet.

I do this every year because even the teachers that I have worked with for years,

they sometimes need a little reminder or that little like,

oh,

should I do this?

What's the, Should I refer them for tier one? Should I just see her with a post it note?

So those little one page cheat sheets, those are great.

And you can include things like your role,

maybe some visuals if you can add them. The difference between a tier one, a tier two and a tier three support how to refer a student with a link.

Or if you're schools,

if you know that they're definitely using computers and everyone has QR code.

You can also include fun facts about you to help build connection.

Better yet, make it cute.

Canva,

maybe a bitmoji that can equal some counselor magic. And if you don't have time, like I said, I have some I can drop the links in there, they're super easy to change up and to make your own.

So I'll add those in the links to the show notes.

Here's key three though.

Ask what they need.

Hmm.

What they need before you.

You offer to come in with a lesson on kindness. You really want to make sure that you are asking what are your students struggling with right now?

Is there anything you've noticed socially or emotionally that I could help with?

And what's one thing that would make your life easier this month?

It's a mindset shift from here's what I can do to how can I support you now? Here's a real life win for you. One year a fourth grade teacher told me her class was super chatty and couldn't stop tattling.

So instead of delivering my usual friendship lesson, I really created a three part miniseries on self control and conflict resolution.

It was based on what she actually needed and it built trust, it gave her a break and it made her feel heard.

Since then she has become one of my biggest allies.

Here's key four though of creating this teacher collaboration.

Co create.

Don't just push in because if you want next level collaboration,

you should co create lessons or activities with your teachers.

For example, you could pair up with a goal setting activity in January.

You can help create a classroom calm corner together or maybe even co lead a morning meeting on empathy.

I really love to hear what my teachers need, what their classes need,

and then create community circles with them where the teacher and I are sitting in that circle together leading those lessons on whatever topic that her their kids need.

And I know that when you plan together teachers, they feel ownership.

And you're not just the guest speaker with the glittery feelings chart. You are actually a necessary component of that classroom.

Key five Celebrate and appreciate.

Look, teachers don't hear thank you nearly enough and let's face it, you probably don't either.

So here's what I want you to do. I want you to be the counselor who leaves little affirmations in mailboxes,

who celebrates teacher wins at staff meetings,

and who recognizes collaboration.

Thanks for inviting me in to teach about empathy.

Your class was amazing.

This small stuff, it adds up and it reinforces the idea that you're not just a resource.

They begin to see you as a partner.

And here's a bonus. Here are some really quick wins for building that teacher collaboration.

Because if you're short on time, and let's face it, who isn't? I want you to try one of these easy wins.

Start a counselor's corner in the staff lounge with some quick SEL tips and group info.

Share a Google form every month to collect input on class needs or concerns.

You might even want to share your referral form every month because let's face it, when it's out of sight, sometimes it goes out of mind. And if you throw it out there once a month, they're going to remember.

Ooh, I can actually use this.

You want to highlight your work,

post a picture of your classroom lesson and tag the teacher. With permission, of course.

Or host a coffee with a counselor.

This is a fun little way. Grab a Keurig,

maybe some pastries in your office.

No agenda, just connection.

I also like to do coffee on a cart. It is super fun. It gets me everywhere.

And half the time the pta, our parent teacher association, will pick up the cost of the coffee and the creamers and sometimes even the little scones and and little mini muffins as well.

And it's so fun to walk to every class,

make some coffees, and just sit and chat.

Now here are some final thoughts for everyone.

Teaming up with teachers, it doesn't mean being everything to everyone.

It just means being intentional,

being kind,

and being available.

The goal is to start small and be consistent.

And remember, it's not about having all the answers.

It's about showing up with a heart to serve,

a willingness to listen,

and a genuine desire to make life better for both teachers and students.

Because when counselors and teachers work together from the start,

everybody wins.

All right, counselor friends,

that really wraps up today's episode of Counselor Chat.

I hope you're walking away with a few new ideas to build stronger connections with your teacher teammates this year.

And if this episode sparks some ideas for you, I'd love to hear them. Tag me on Instagram ounselingessentials and share your favorite way to build collaboration from day one.

And and don't forget, if you found this episode helpful,

leave a review,

share it with a friend,

or shout it out at your next staff meeting.

I mean, who doesn't need a little podcast pep talk before their third cup of coffee?

And until next time, take care of yourself and keep making a difference one connection at a time.

Bye for now.

Thanks for listening to today's episode of Counselor Chat. All of the links I talked about can be found in the show notes and at counselingessentials.org podcast.

Be sure to hit follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast player. And if you would be so kind to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it.

Want to connect. Send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram at counselingessentials. Until next time. Can't wait till we chat.

Bye for now.