Meet the Team
School Counseling Philosophy
At Highland Middle School, we believe ALL students have the ability to grow as life-long learners who develop into successful community members who promote change and equity for all. As school counselors, we will work to help foster growth and resilience within our students so they will continue to be lifelong learners to make a difference in the world.
Todd Johnson
Counselor- Last Names A-K
Phone: (509) 867-2025
Email: todd.johnson@mead354.org
Tammy Rogers
Counselor- Last Names L-Z
Phone: (509) 867- 2026
Email: tammy.rogers@mead354.org
Meg O'Neil
Administrative Assistant
Phone: (509) 867-2027
Email: Megan.oneil@mead354.org
How to schedule an appointment with your counselor! There are lots of ways!
Come into the Counseling Center during school hours and Mrs. O'Neil can help.
Fill out a Blue "Can We Please Meet" card and turn it into the box outside the Counseling Center. These are located in the bathrooms, outside the library, and the counseling center.
Submit a request online HERE.
Send an email to your counselor.
What Is The Role Of A School Counselor?
The Comprehensive School Counseling Program Rationale
According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), "school counselors are vital members of the education team. They help all students in the areas of academic achievement, career, and social/emotional development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.
Middle school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child development, learning strategies, self-management, and social skills, who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students. They implement a comprehensive school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period.
The program provides education, prevention, and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. The program teaches knowledge, attitudes, and skills students need to acquire in academic, career, and social/emotional development, which serve as the foundation for future success." (ASCA, 2012)
If you would like to learn more about the ASCA National Model Framework that we use, follow this link.
The school counselor uses these standards as a guide for the delivery of the school counseling program to the students at Highland Middle School.
Responsive Services
These services are activities designed to meet our students' immediate needs and concerns. These services may include counseling in small groups, individual counseling, or crisis response.
Indirect Student Services
These services are provided on behalf of the students as a result of the school counselors' interactions with others. These services include:
Referrals for additional assistance
Consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Professional Development - Your counselors are members of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
For more information about PBIS and ASCA, please click on the following links:
Individual Student Planning
The Highland Middle School Counselors coordinate ongoing systematic activities that are designed to assist students in establishing goals and plans for their future.
Student Support Team (SST): This is a general education problem-solving committee that consists of an administrator, the school counselor, parents, and other school personnel who know or work with the student. This team recommends appropriate interventions for struggling students at Highland so they can become successful in their everyday lives. Parents or teachers can seek this team if they feel that their child/student needs additional assistance. Evidence-based interventions will be implemented after discussing data collected over a period of time. This team convenes on an as-needed basis.
Small Group Counseling
Small group counseling is a tier 2 intervention that targets a specific need in the school. Small group counseling will be implemented to help students with their social/emotional needs based on collected data, teacher/counselor observation, and parent requests. These small groups use evidence-based counseling interventions to help the children learn and grow in the areas they are struggling with.
Use Of Data
Highland data is used to drive the comprehensive school counseling program. Data is used to measure the outcomes of the delivery of our program, as well as identify the needs of the school to promote change, equity, and access for all our students.
Highland data can be found on the following public information sites:
How do we prove that what we are doing actually works?
"To demonstrate the effectiveness of the school counseling program in measurable terms, school counselors analyze school and school counseling program data to determine how students are different as a result of the school counseling program. School counselors use data to show the impact of the school counseling program on student achievement, attendance, and behavior and analyze school counseling program assessments to guide future action and improve future results for all students. The performance of the school counselor is evaluated on basic standards of practice expected of school counselors implementing a comprehensive school counseling program." (ASCA, 2012)
The school counselors use data to show that the comprehensive school counseling program has created positive change for our students in the school. Sources of data may include but are not limited to:
Behavior and Discipline Data
Grades
Attendance Data
Perception Surveys
At Highland Middle School, the school counselors expect results that show an increase in school attendance and academic achievement and a decrease in the amount of discipline referrals.