| What a great job I have! As the school counselor, I have the opportunity to celebrate the big and small joys in a child’s life as well as provide a soft shoulder when the tough times come. I have the privilege of celebrating hundreds of birthdays and hundreds of lost teeth. On a typical day, fifty hugs may come my way. Updates on birthday parties, pets and grandparent visits are part of my daily conversations. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.
In addition to developing lots of personal relationships with children and their families, I teach guidance lessons throughout the school year in each of the classrooms. Some of the topics I cover are: Bullying, Peer Pressure, Tattling, Safety, Impulse Control, Friendship Skills and other specific concerns teachers may request. One- on- one counseling, mediation and teacher and parent consultations are also part of my day.
Our school administers the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Cognitive Ability Test in the fall and the ITBS for additional grades in the spring. I coordinate those test administrations as well as the individual testing done when a parent requests their child accelerate a grade. I work under the direction of the assistant principal in coordinating the administration of the TAKS test. Coordination of the 504 program is also one of my responsibilites.
I have been the counselor at Hart the past 9 years and was a counselor and teacher in Allen ISD twenty-four years. My husband, David, owns and operates Lasting Impression Dental Laboratory in Allen. Our son, Michael, is working on his doctrate in physical therapy at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene. He is married to our wonderful daughter-in-law, Lynsey, who teaches third grade in Abilene and is finishing her masters in counseling this year. Our daughter, Kelsey, graduated from Oklahoma University with a degree in graphic design. She is currently the graphic designer for Crystal Charity Ball. I love spending time with family and friends at the lake (especially Lake Hamilton in Arkansas), boating, jet skiing, flea marketing, shopping and reading.
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