The Student Support Team’s (SST) primary function is routine, structured problem solving in conjunction with teachers or parents requesting assistance, and the resolution of student-centered problems. Teams collaborate to analyze student problems and design interventions powerful enough to effect the desired change. The functions and services the team provides varies with the needs of the individual student. The SST may include the student’s teacher, the student’s guardian(s), the principal, school counselor, special education teacher, student behavior support technician, and/or school psychologist as deemed necessary.
The process begins when a teacher or parent makes a request for assistance to the counselor, who will schedule the SST meeting. At this meeting, the team focuses on brainstorming, evaluating, and selecting high probability interventions and creating an action plan. An implementation period of a sufficient length of time follows with support provided to the teacher to assist with the interventions. The team reconvenes for a follow-up meeting to review the outcomes and determine the next steps. The problem-solving process continues until the intervention(s) is successful or until a determination is made that a more in-depth evaluation for special services is required.
Barnette has a counselor to work with students and parents. If students need to see the counselor, they may request permission from teachers or make an appointment. The following are just a few topics that a student may want to talk about with our counselor:
Grades or help with homework
Problems with peers
Concerns about school
Changes in family
Transitions to high school