Welcome to the IHS Counseling Department

Independence High School Counseling Department

Mission Statement

Believe Achieve Graduate

Counseling Goals

• Serve all students through a comprehensive counseling program focused on the academic and social-emotional needs of the students.

• Support all students to graduate within four years or longer, if needed.

• Create a welcoming and safe environment for all students.

• Serve as leaders in guiding IHS as a trauma-informed school.

• Uphold the standards of the American School Counseling Association.

Expected Student Outcomes

• Every student will earn a high school diploma.

• Students will participate in college and career readiness opportunities.

• Students will earn credit recovery while keeping up with grade-level courses.

• Students will learn how to set personal, academic, and career goals.

Student Services provided by IHS Counseling Department 

Independence High School’s counseling team is committed to implementing a comprehensive counseling program designed to serve all students.  Counselors work closely with parents, staff, and administrators to ensure that effective strategies are employed to meet student success and achievement. The following services are available to all students and are often student-initiated:

• Individual Counseling

• Academic issues

• Course planning

• Stress management

• Social and Behavioral issues

• Post-secondary planning

• Crisis intervention

• Conflict resolution & mediation

• Other barriers to academic success

Programs and Supports

• Parent/student/teacher conferences

• Response to Intervention (RTI) 

• Resource information for community agencies and counseling centers

• College visits

• College and Career Fair

• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

• Level All and Next Step Plans

• College and career awareness and planning

• McKinney-Vento Services

• Section 504

• Google Classroom to make announcements and send relevant information to students

• Credentialing every Wednesday

• SOS (Signs of Suicide) - Suicide prevention curriculum

 Scheduling

• Registration

• Master schedule

• Student scheduling

• Transcript review

• Credit recovery

Committee Memberships

• IHS Lead Team

• GRADS Advisory Committee

• Professional Development

• Level All

Staff Development and Support

• Strengths-based interventions

• Assist staff with student concerns

• Section 504

• McKinney Vento Education Act

• Trauma-informed schools training

• Relationship-building

• Staff wellness