School Counselor Mock Interview
Practice 40 School Counselor interview questions covering crisis intervention, student advocacy, and collaboration with families.
Question 26 of 40
What would you do if a student told you they were touched inappropriately by a teacher?
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Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
Questions like this would also test your knowledge of the due process. It's not just about comforting the student but also being able to proceed with the right course of action especially if it will turn into an administrative/criminal offence such as sexual harassment or abuse.
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
"I will first get the facts from the student such as the details of the incident. I will also ask the student if he/she has told anybody so that I would know how to proceed with the incident. Normally, students are afraid because they are threatened by their abusers. As such, I would assure the student that I am there to help. I will escalate this to the school officials so that an investigation can be conducted. Meanwhile, I will ensure that the student is cared for by making sure that his/her family is informed and that there is protection from the suspect."
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Anonymous Answer
In this situation, the first thing I would do is contact my administrator and discuss the allegation with him/her. I would then assist in any way I could to ensure that proper procedures were followed (including contacting the police, informing parents, contacting a crisis outreach center, etc.) and that the student was kept safe and most importantly away from this teacher. I would follow up with my administrator in the days that followed and maintain confidentiality while also working with the parents of this student to ensure he/she gets the proper care, both physically and emotionally.
Rachelle's Feedback
Highly professional response. If you have dealt with a situation like this in the past, you could mention that you have taken these steps, while maintaining complete confidentiality of course.
Anonymous Answer
I would listen in a supportive, empathic manner. It can be re-traumatizing for people to be asked about abusive incidents, so I would be cautious, but try to find out as much information as I could. I would inform the student that I am a mandated reporter and must report the incident, and I would report to law enforcement and/or CPS per District policy and state requirements. I would call the parents to inform them of the situation or offer the student the option to call.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a very difficult situation, and you approach it in a manner that is trauma-informed, while still taking the necessary steps for reporting. Given the fact that this involves a teacher (rather than another adult in the student's life,) I would suggest adding that you'll be immediately looping in school leadership/your supervisor as part of the report.
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