Meet Mrs. Bilotta

Greetings Wheeler Wildcats, I'm excited to be here! My name is Katie Bilotta, and I am the Mental Health Practitioner, also known as the MHP.  This will be my sixth school year working as an MHP, and my 12th year within the field of social work/mental health. Before coming to JCPS, I worked as a case manager, home and school-based therapist, and have done private practice work with children and adults.  I am passionate about working in the school environment and having the opportunity to collaborate with young people, their families, and teachers/staff. 

The words "mental health" may sound scary to some. It's part of my goal as the MHP to help change that fear into a sense of hope. As I often explain to our students, just like we take care of our physical bodies, we can also take care of our minds and our hearts. When I meet with students, I support them in learning positive ways of expressing emotions, learning how to cope with difficult situations, and that it's OK to ask for help. Sometimes I work with students who have trouble focusing in class. I also work with students who are learning how to make friendships, who have feelings of anxiety, depression, or a history of trauma. My job is important in school, because when we feel better, we can play better, work better, and learn better! Our mental health matters in all of us feeling successful. 

When I'm not at school, I will almost always be with my family! We have a large extended family and at home is my dear husband, our sweet 2-year-old, and our two kitty cats. We love being outside: gardening, riding bikes, and going for lots of walks together. We enjoy cooking, playing, watching movies and going on adventures in and out of town.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year at Wheeler Elementary!