Late in the 2025 spring semester, Paso Robles High School had made the decision to alter the way that counselors were assigned to their students. On June 4, 2025, students and parents received in email from principal Megan Fletcher, the way counselors were arranged were going to have changes.
The previous way of counselor arrangement was formulated by grade level. A few students happened to have the same current counselor from their previous years, but to the other students who had to undergo changes, many were caught off guard. The new alpha model of counselor arrangement is based on last name initials. Students whose last name initials are A-De, have Megen Guffey as their counselor. Students whose last name initials are Di-Le have Alexandra Thompson as their counselor. Students whose last name initials are Li-Re have Jessica Shatwell as their counselor. Students whose last name initials are Ri-Z have Lindsay Soto as their counselor. Sadie Pedrin remains as the Dual-Enrollment counselor for all students.
“The high school here has had counselors arranged in the grade level model for 10 years. So it’s been 11 years since the alpha model existed here, and the number of people that were here 10 years ago that are still here is very small. Trying to go back to what worked before 11, 12, and 13 years ago and what should stay implemented, was a little bit of a challenge, just because, number one, the size of our student population has grown. Number two, there just aren’t that many people with that longitudinal knowledge to be able to draw back on,” Thompson explained. The new model of counselor arrangement (alpha model) wasn’t made in short timing, but rather going back to the previous model that existed years ago.
Thompson also stated that there were advantages and disadvantages to the new model of counselor arrangement.
“Some of the advantages of the Alpha model are that everybody keeps family units together. So if you get a family that has seven kids, you get all seven kids, and you really get to build relationships with the family. Disadvantages of the newer model is it’s definitely a little bit challenging to bounce between ninth graders and 12th graders, in the same period”. Thompson remarked.
After the school year began, students would contact their new counselors about schedule changes, college and career assistance, emotional support, and other needs. Despite the sudden change, students would receive little hindrance from this alteration.
Students like Senior Victor Rodriguez have mixed opinions regarding this change. Rodriguez believes that the previous way of how counselors were better for the counselors to connect with their students on a deeper level.
“I like how the counselors were with you throughout ninth and 12th grade so they really knew what you were struggling in. They also had more time to be more specific to your grade level, where now, as I feel like it’s now, they have to deal with incoming freshmen every year, and that’s probably even more stressful for them” Rodriguez remarked.
On the other hand students like Sophomore Levi Anderson, do not mind the change and believe that the change isn’t all that bad.
“I feel like the change hasn’t really affected me, I’ve only ever talked to my counselor once, for a class change, but it hasn’t been difficult for me to adjust”. Anderson stated.
With the new alpha model of counselor arrangement being implemented, students can adjust into the year getting to know their new counselor and have a better understanding of how the arrangement is now.
