Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Kenneth A. Card

Second Advisor

Dr. Paula Lester

Third Advisor

Dr. Tonie McDonald

Abstract

Early career awareness is essential in guiding students to explore their strengths and interests. Counselors serve as vital constituents in helping students foster academic and personal growth, while also providing opportunities to build salient ramps for career exploration. Although professional literature has recognized the vital role school counselors have in promoting college and career readiness, limited research has examined how their efforts are perceived by individuals in supervisory and administrative roles. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of directors and supervisors of guidance on the importance and existence of career development practices. Understanding how high school counselors carry out their duties related to career development helps to assess counseling priorities of career preparation in high schools. To evaluate the perceptions of supervisors of guidance regarding career development practices, the Directors and Supervisors of School Counselors Career Development Survey (DSSCCDS) was distributed to members of the Suffolk Directors of Guidance who represented Nassau and Suffolk County High Schools, located on Long Island in the State of New York (n = 70). The results of this study revealed statistically significant differences in mean scores in all 20 items on the DSSCCDS, as well as across various themes and by participants’ gender, favoring perceptions in the construct of importance with magnitudes of effect in the differences ranging from medium to very large. Various themes considered included: student access, career development, career resources, counselor roles and responsibilities, and leadership.

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