SPS counseling chief lauded by national group

Alison Roffers, director of counseling services for Springfield Public Schools, received national attention for work to improve student attendance and engagement.

The Harmony Academy at National University, which is located in California, recently recognized Roffers as a Belonging Champion for working closely with teachers and students to build healthy relationships within schools.

Roffers said educators and counselors want students to feel like they belong at school, no matter what building they attend. She said it helps them participate more fully, stay engaged with learning, and feel connected to peers and trusted adults.

“I’m just proud of school counselors and all the work that they do,” she told Springfield Business Journal. “I love going to visit in the buildings and watch them in action with students.”

SPS has 89 school counselors, and in elementary and early childhood centers, they offer regular lessons on communicating effectively, listening, showing respect and taking turns.

“They’re some of what we would call executive functioning skills that we hope we are equipping our students with to be successful humans,” she said.

For helping students focus on academics and feel connected to school, Roffers was singled out March 11 during a national virtual event called Buddy Up Day.

SPS has stepped up efforts to make student attendance a priority with Superintendent Grenita Lathan asking parents, business owners and community leaders to support that effort in recent years.

Roffers said students who consistently show up to school and participate in learning and activities tend to have higher academic achievement.

“If you feel like you belong somewhere, then you want to go there,” she said.