In celebration of National School Counseling Week, CUSD Insider is showcasing profiles of the fantastic counselors we have throughout the District.
Today we are highlighting Linda Kang, College and Career Counselor at Cal Prep and Union.
Q: How long have you worked in CUSD?
A: 3 years
Q: Describe your role in supporting student success at your school or in your department.
A: As a College and Career Counselor, I meet with students and families to help ensure their success in high school and beyond. My role consists of helping students put together an academic plan, meet college requirements, form college and career goals, apply to college, get financial aid, etc.! I also get the privilege of working on bringing a brand new program to our district, the Middle College Academy which will be a dual enrollment high school program in partnership with Saddleback College.
Q: How long have you worked professionally in school counseling?
A: This is my 10th year as a school counselor. Prior to CUSD I was a counselor at Calabasas High School and Granada Hills Charter High School in the San Fernando Valley.
Q: What college degrees and professional certifications do you hold?
A: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at UCLA and Master’s degree with PPS credential in School Counseling at CSUN.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about counseling work?
A: One of the most rewarding things is to witness students grow whether personally, academically, or socially. When I see them taking initiative of their academic plan, learning the skills to self-advocate, or taking up a cause in the community, I am so impressed with the amazing potential of our students. Of course, as a college and career counselor, I also get the honor of celebrating with them as they head off to college or whatever their next steps may be post-graduation!
Q: Is there a program that CUSD utilizes that is especially beneficial to student support?
A: Futureology is a team of credentialed College and Career Counselors at each of the high school sites, that I believe is quite unique to CUSD. While other districts may have college advisors, the Futureology counselors are PPS credentialed counselors who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Most have experience as admissions readers for a variety of UC campuses and some also serve as board members in the Western Association of College Admissions Counseling (WACAC). We are highly connected and informed to support students on their college/career journey. Another program CUSD utilizes is CaliforniaColleges.edu which all our students have access to grades 6-12. We work closely with California Colleges Guidance Initiative so that our students can have a great tool for college/career planning, but also seamlessly import transcript information to track A-G progress and eventually launch their college apps.
Q: When you were in school, did you have an impactful experience with a counselor?
A: I still remember my high school counselor, Mr. Alpert. His inviting and cheery demeanor always made me feel seen and supported whenever I went to go see him about classes and college plans. As a first-generation college student he made a huge impact in viewing my own potential for succeeding in college. I could feel that he believed in me and that became a self-fulfilling prophecy when I was admitted to UCLA!
Q: How do counselors in CUSD help support one another?
A: Counselors work together to provide a seamless program across all of the high school sites and to provide support in every domain. Once a month all high school counselors gather together to share best practices, plan curriculum, and work together so all of our students are best supported across all the schools.
Q: What is the one thing you would want families to know about your role in student success that they might not be aware of?
A: In addition to 1:1 appointments with students and families, I work on other districtwide projects to ensure that our counselors have the tools they need to help students succeed. I’m always looking at and cleaning up data to see who needs additional support, so no student is overlooked, and ensure that our programs like CaliforniaColleges.edu run smoothly with accurate data and information. Lastly, as a board member for WACAC I build strong relationships with college professionals and bring back the most up-to-date resources to help inform my work with students!