What does a school counselor do? 

This comprehensive school counseling program is multi-tiered and multi-domain, which means that all students are served through schoolwide events and classroom instruction. Additionally, small group intervention may be implemented and individual counseling may be provided, as needed. Counseling domains include academic and social/emotional support, as well as college and career readiness. 

School counselors help remove barriers to learning by teaching students skills they can utilize so that they're ready to learn. I focus on topics like leadership and empowerment, problem solving, positive behavior, improved attendance and academics, coping skills, and social skills. 

If you would like your child to receive short-term counseling services, please fill out this referral form. 

Below are the services provided during the 2023-2024 School Year: 

McCabe School Counseling Program

Dresden Hester, PPSC M.S. School Counseling

School Year: 2023-2024

School Counseling: Tier 1

August:       4th grade: Introduction to the counselor, expectations, process for self-referring, attendance

September:  Higher Ed Week Spirit Week, Staff Slideshow

7th-8th grade College and Career Readiness Lesson

7th-8th grade Study Skills Lesson

 4th-8th grade Peacebuilder Assembly

October:      4th-6th grade: Conflict vs. Bullying Lesson

   4th-8th grade Red Ribbon Week Activities (Pledges, Assemblies)

4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

4th-8th grade: Attendance Incentives begin

Parent Engagement Night-Social Media Safety

November:  7th grade: Respect Lesson

December:   Leaders in Friendship Mission Statements and Picnics

8th grade: Field Trip: CTE Showcase at Central and Southwest High

Ray Lozano Motivational Speaker

4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

January:       8th grade Minute Meetings begin

                    4th-8th grade: The Great Kindness Challenge Activities

        PULSE 2.0 Parent Engagement

         4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

         6th grade- College and Career Readiness Lesson

         7th grade- Thrively Strengths Lesson and Assessment

February:     4th-5th grade- College and Career Readiness Lesson

8th grade: Thrively Strengths lesson and Assessment

Leaders in Friendship-No One Eats Alone Posters

4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

March:         4th-6th grade: Gossip and Rumors  

                       *5th grade: CTE Kit Exploration

                     4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

                     4th grade: Seek First To Understand Video

April:           California Healthy Kids Survey

4th-5th grade: Study Skills

6th grade: Stress Management

Leaders in Friendship Bracelets

                     7th-8th Thrively Interest Inventory

                     Parent Engagement Night: Mental Health Resources

4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

May:            Mental Health Messages Daily

7th-8th grade Career Day

4th-8th grade: Peacebuilder Assembly

June:            8th grade: AB 329

School Conseling: Tier 2

·   8th grade: At-Risk Intervention

·       Counseling: As Needed, Short Term, Responsive/Referred

·       As Needed Conflict Resolution Sessions

·       As Needed Restorative Sessions for Mid- High-Level Discipline Cases 

·       Consultation and Collaboration with Staff

·       SARB

School Counseling: Tier 3

·       SART 

·       Students in Crisis

·       Students Referred to Outside Agencies

·       SSTs, 504s, Parent Meetings

·       Restorative sessions with suspended students

Other yearlong, ongoing services:

·       Leader in Me Implementation

·       Attendance Improvement Planning

·       Strong Workforce Program Consortium 

·       School Based Mental Health Consortium

·       Professional Development

o   Counselors Roundtable

Is a school counselor the same as a therapist? 

No. The Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) only allows me to provide short-term services. Students who need intensive, ongoing support are best served by outside agencies who specialize in therapy in a clinical setting. Please do not hesitate to reach out for guidance when determining the most appropriate services for your child. In many cases, I can provide supplemental support to the services that are provided outside of school. 

What should I do if my child is not earning As and Bs?

Take a deep breath! 

Check out this video and article called, How To Get Your Child Motivated in School published by the Child Mind Institute. 

How to Help Your Child Succeed in School by Very Well Family is also a good one. 

Visit the subpage Study Skills on this site to learn more about executive functioning skills and growth mindset. 

What can we expect from the Counseling Program this year?

Several days of instruction have been scheduled where I will visit classrooms to talk about topics like college and career, bullying, disability awareness, friendships, and study skills. Additionally, in Jr. High, counselors will regularly be teaching Employability Skills as part of the advisory/intervention period. 

I am looking forward to continue working with the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) and the Strong Workforce Program, with the common goal of providing career exposure and opportunities to our middle school students so that they are better prepared for high school and post-secondary endeavors.  

The Parent University in Leading Students to Excellence (PULSE 2.0) training workshops will be provided to middle school parents during the month of January. (Please see Upcoming Events for more information). 

 I will be continuing to support the implementation of Leader in Me at our school. I cannot wait to see our students behavior, attendance and academics improve as we provide them with leadership opportunities to make their school a better place. 

Can you tell me everything my child discloses to you?

If a parent or teacher has referred a child to counseling, I have no problem providing an update on the skills we have been learning. Checking progress in many cases, is necessary. However, the details have the sessions are on an "need to know" basis. 

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and Confidentiality: 

"The counseling relationship between students and their school counselor requires an atmosphere of trust and confidence. Students must trust the school counselor to be able to enter into a meaningful and honest dialogue with the school counselor (Iyer & Baxter-MacGregor, 2010). However, students should be informed that exceptions to confidentiality exist in which school counselors must inform others of information they obtained in the counseling relationship to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to students themselves or others and if it is legally required."

Additionally, "School counselors recognize their primary obligation regarding confidentiality is to the student but balance that obligation with an understanding of the family or guardians’ legal and inherent rights to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives (ASCA, 2016)."