School Counselor’s Role

The Role of Thomas Jefferson School Counselors

Data Driven Goals:

Each year our School Counseling Department surveys students, staff and families to determine areas of need to drive our annual department goals.  Find our annual survey results HERE for the 20-21 SY.

Collaborative Programming Offered by Thomas Jefferson School Counselors: 
As your child’s counselors, we offer various options for supporting their development here at Thomas Jefferson: 

• Individual and small group counseling to assist in understanding feelings, concerns and behaviors that are unique to middle school development. Areas of focus may include: peer relationships, peer pressure, teasing, sexual harassment, bulling, internet safety, stress, organizational strategies, conflict resolution, and emotional or academic difficulties

• Academic and career planning; including course selection, information on graduation requirements, academic and career options, orientation and transitions strategies for middle and high school, and our annual Career Day event

• Facilitation in parent-team conferences, intervention assistance teams and other collaborative efforts with teachers, parents,  administrators and students

• Character Education program coordination, including the character trait of the Month Award in alignment with IB Learner Profiles

• Crisis counseling: intervention strategies and resource referrals

• Community and Service activities

• Referrals to outside-based tutoring or counseling services

• Attendance/Truancy interventions in collaboration with our School Social Worker

• Substance abuse prevention and intervention plans with our Substance Abuse Counselor