April Counselor Spotlight: Susan Gierhart - Jones Public Schools
Our featured school counselor for month is Susan Gierhart, a 6th-8th grade school counselor at Jones Middle School. Susan has been a school counselor for 11 years. Thank you, Susan, for being so dedicated to the students and families in Oklahoma and for the positive impact you have made.
What is your favorite part of being a school counselor or the most rewarding aspect of your position?
My favorite part of being a school counselor is connecting with students. Often, I am able to connect with the students that some consider "difficult." I enjoy reaching those students and being their trusted adult.
Why is creating a comprehensive school counseling program important to you?
School counselors are being asked to do more and more tasks that are less and less beneficial to the overall wellbeing and success of our students. Asking counselors to be in charge of testing administration, scheduling, and other administrative duties takes away from our ability to teach students healthy mindsets, learning strategies, self-management and social skills.
What quote inspires you?
"Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child."
This quote goes so well with our comprehensive school counseling program. If we give students the tools for success, they will have the tools they need when they encounter life's hardships. We can't fix everything for them, but we can prepare them for the challenges they will face--and they will face challenges; even our best and brightest will face challenges. It is not fair to any student not to prepare them to face those challenges. It is a detriment to their future selves.
What do you do when you need inspiration to tackle another day working on behalf of students?
I pray for my students and co-workers. That always reminds me what an important job I have and what a difference I can make in the lives of the people I encounter every day.
What do you do to decompress and refuel for the next day?
My two favorite things to do to decompress and refuel are to spend time with my grandsons Leland and Lennon and to read.
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Coffee with Counselors
Please join us for "Coffee with Counselors!" This is an informal time for school counselors from across our great state to come together for celebration, collaboration, and continued growth. We look forward to you joining us!
Each session will be held 9am - 10am
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OKMTSS Conference
Mark your calendars for the 2024 OKMTSS Conference. June 25th - 26th. Pre-Conference is June 24th.
Look for more information to be released soon!
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Funding Opportunity for MEB Programs
These grants are a direct funding opportunity to schools who are looking to fund their MTSS programs and assist in the following:
- Develop a districtwide, comprehensive MTSS plan for MEB (mental, emotional & behavioral) health.
- Train school staff and educators how to recognize the risk factors and warning signs of developing MEB health problems and how to respond to mental health crisis.
- Offer learning-focused opportunities for families on student MEB health.
- Decrease stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors related to MEB health.
- Implement evidence-based primary and secondary prevention strategies with students.
Funding amounts per LEA are as follows:
- Up to 500 students enrolled – up to $100,000
- 501-1,000 students enrolled – up to $150,000
- 1,001-5,000 students enrolled – up to $225,000
- 5,001 or more students enrolled – up to $300,000
Find more information at: MTSS--RFI-2024.pdf (oklahoma.gov)
Deadline for submitting application is April 15th, 2024
Wear Green - Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Join us in wearing green on May 1st to show support for mental health awareness in your schools and communities.
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Prevention Playbook:
Month of the Military Child
In 1986, April was designated Month of the Military Child by Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger. Since that time, military communities around the world have recognized military children for their contributions and unique needs. Download Purple Up Flyer
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Bullying and Cyberbullying on the Rise
The incidences of both cyberbullying and adolescent suicide are rising in the United States, with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt. Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide of a victim in several recent cases, a phenomenon that has been newly termed cyberbullicide.
Even though not all cyber bullies or victims think of (or consider) suicide, they clearly appear to be at an increased risk.
A recent study by the NIH showed that participants who experienced cyberbullying were more than 4 times as likely to report thoughts of suicide and attempts as those who didn’t.
Another study has shown that effective, evidence-based cyberbullying intervention programs involving communication and social skills, digital citizenship, empathy training, coping skills, as well as education on cyberbullying for both the individual youth and parent can help overcome suicide risk in young people who experience cyberbullying.
It is not an easy answer, but if we address it properly, we can find success in helping minimize the factors that cause the increased risk that cyberbullying can cause.
You can find an array of resources on the stopbullying.gov website.
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