Welcome to Student Services

IRMS School Counselors
2025-2026

Mrs. Jodi Gibson
jodigibson@ircsd.org
School Counselor - Grade 6

Mrs. Alexandra Wright
alexandrawright@ircsd.org
School Counselor - Grade 8

Mr. Jack Brand
jackbrand@ircsd.org
School Counselor - Grade 7 

Middle School Counselors are assigned the same cohort of students throughout the three years of middle school (grades 6-8) which allows students to form a positive and consistent relationship with an adult throughout their adolescent development.

School Counselors are student advocates who provide individual, group, and classroom counseling to support the 'whole' student in the areas of academic achievement and success, social-emotional wellness, and future planning (college/career). School Counselors readily communicate, consult and partner with students, teachers, parents, administrators, and outside agencies – and work towards a common student-centered goal. Our School Counselors are problem solvers and are always available and happy to assist you as you navigate the middle school years.
IRMS School Counselors:

• Provide individual, group and classroom counseling services focusing on personal/social, academic, and/or college and career exploration.

• Provide crisis intervention counseling and make appropriate referrals to outside agencies.

• Attend weekly Team meetings with grade level teachers.

• Facilitate Parent-Teacher Conferences.

• Create and manage student schedules and the building-wide master schedule.

• Assist teachers in the MTSS and Response to Intervention process.

• Serve as a student advocate on the Committees for Special Education and 504s.

• Serve as a liaison with outside agency personnel.

• Provide consultation services to parents, teachers, and administrators.

• Create and presents classroom guidance lessons on various academic, social-emotional and future planning topics.

• Develop student success plans and provide information regarding both short and long term academic and career goals.

• Register and welcome new middle school students while assisting with transition needs as they join the IRMS family.

• Review academic records for appropriate academic placements.

• Communicate with other school districts for incoming and outgoing transfer students.

• Facilitates grade level transitions from IRIS to MS and MS to HS.

• Encourage and coach students to make healthy and positive decisions.

• Provide conflict resolution and friendship mediation services.

• Serve as building-wide Testing Coordinators for all building-wide exams.

• Monitor student achievement and review 5 week reports to determine academic eligibility for extracurricular activities. 

• Manage Summer School registration and attend Summer School opening days to assist students.

• Monitor and oversees attendance concerns for truancy issues.

• Support teachers, families and students to foster a healthy partnership and positive environment for student success.

• Serve as a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect. 

• Serve on the Crisis Intervention Team.

• Collaborate ongoingly with clinicians and private practice therapist re: the mental health and well being of mutual students.

Social Workers

In addition to our three School Counselors, Indian River Middle School also employs a School Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to assist with student needs. 

Licensed Clinical & School Social Worker (MS/HS)
Mrs. Jennifer Bryant-Ulrich, LCSW
jenniferbryantulrich@ircsd.org

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (MS/HS)
Mrs. Gabrielle (Schwartz) Healy, LCSW
gabrielleschwartz@ircsd.org

As a vital member of the pupil personnel services team, our Social Workers provide behavioral, emotional, and social-related intervention services for matters that affect student performance. These services may include:

• Leads the Crisis Intervention team.

• Provides threat assessments, to include suicidal ideation as well as self injury.

• May accompany a student/family to the Emergency Room for Emergency Mental Health services.

• Provides counseling services to students who have more complex mental health /behavioral concerns.

• Provides group counseling as needed.

• Conducts behavioral assessments and depressions assessments as requested.

• Provides intervention for students in situations where behavioral and social barriers interfere with student performance.

• Provides consultation for parents, teachers, resource personnel, and administration to address student behavior and social needs.

• Co-coordinates, with the School Psychologist, Functional Behavioral Assessments and Building Intervention Plans.

• Refers to community agencies and services to address medical, behavioral, social, and familial issues.

• Serves as a liaison between school and community agencies.

• Addresses attendance and truancy issues which may result in a home visit.

• Completes various duties related to homeless youth.

• Develops and conducts in-services for staff on a variety of topics, per administrative request.

• One of two trainers for the district who is qualified to teach Nonviolent Crisis Intervention-both with verbal and physical interventions.

• Serve as a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect. 

• Serve on the Crisis Intervention Team.

School Psychologist

Mrs. Tracey Walrath
traceywalrath@ircsd.org

As a member of the pupil personnel services team, the School Psychologist provides a broad range of services to facilitate learning and personal adjustment of students in school. These services may include:

• Apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.

• Evaluations of students experiencing learning and/or behavior problems.

• Assisting in appropriate placement of students with special needs.

• Providing consultation for teachers and parents to help meet the individual needs of students.

• Providing crisis intervention and referrals for outside mental health or evaluation services.

• Serving as a member of the MTSS and Response to Intervention Committee

• Serves on the Committee on Special Education and 504.

• Serves on the Crisis Intervention Team. 

Home-to-School Coordinator

Mrs. Ginger Thomas
gingerthomas@ircsd.org
Click here for Information about IRCSD's Family School Liaison Services

As a member of the pupil personnel services team, the Home-to-School Coordinator provides a broad range of services to facilitate an open and positive line of communication between school and our student's homes and families to promote student engagement. Services provided include but are not limited to:

• Collaborates with School Administration, School Counselors, School Social Workers, School Nurses, Teachers, SROs, families, students, and community agencies to provide supports and resources that address the presenting concerns. They also work closely with the building's Attendance Secretary to improve student attendance and support families in this area. 

• Goals of this position include but are not limited to helping students develop positive self-esteem, encouraging school engagement and an increase in their academic performance, encourage parent and school partnerships, promote appropriate life skills, encourage positive peer interactions and social skills, and improve daily attendance. 

• Provides possible ideas, resources, and strategies to assist students on building upon their current strengths.

• Advocates and assists families on accessing and maximizing their usage of community-based services. 

• Supports student and family needs through home visits when necessary. 

• Provides positive student support via individual meetings, school-based social skills groups, promoting mindfulness and other healthy coping strategies, and scheduling individual check-ins and checkouts with students. Individual or group meetings are typically scheduled during times of the school day that the student will not miss academic instruction (WIN, study halls, lunch). 

• Closely monitors attendance data, communicating with the Attendance Secretary and School Nursing staff to provide quick response and interventions for students at risk for chronic absenteeism. Chronic Absenteeism has tripled since the pandemic, affecting 1/6 school-age students and is defined as a student missing 10% or more of the current school year.