Laurie Spelder, School Counselor
Linda Copeland, Aide

      Elementary school counselors implement effective classroom guidance focusing on:

    * understanding self and others
    * coping strategies
    * peer relationships and effective social skills
    * communication, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and study skills
    * career awareness and the world of work
    * substance education
    * multicultural awareness

      Provide individual and small group counseling dealing with:

    * self-image and self-esteem
    * personal adjustment
    * family issues
    * interpersonal concerns
    * academic development
    * behavior modification
    * peer facilitation and peer mediation

Provide assessment by helping students identify their skills, abilities, achievements and interests through counseling and guidance activities and interpretation of standardized tests.
Work with specialized populations and needs that require special attention, such as culturally diverse populations and students of varying abilities.

Develop students' career awareness as a lifelong process of forming basic values, attitudes and interests regarding their future world of work. Coordinate school, community and business resources schoolwide guidance-related activities and extracurricular programs promoting students' personal growth and skill development. Provide consultation with teachers, administrators, school psychologists, school social workers, and outside agencies and social services concerning the welfare of the students.

Make appropriate referrals for special services for students and families within the school and community. Communicate and exchange information with parents/guardians by way of conferences, parent education workshops and newsletters.

Participate as members of the school improvement and interdisciplinary teams and work as liaisons with PTA. Elementary school years set the tone for developing the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for children to become healthy, productive adults. With a comprehensive developmental counseling program, counselors work as a team with school. parents and community to create a caring atmosphere whereby children's needs are met through prevention, early identification and intervention.

District Counseling Services