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Jacksboro High School counselor Dori Taylor speaks on what programs she offers on her campus during the Jacksboro ISD meeting at the Oct. 10 meeting. Photo/Brian Smith
Jacksboro ISD counselors explained what is happening on their campuses during the Jacksboro ISD board meeting Oct. 10.
All three counselors dispelled the notion that all they do is talk to students all day. Each counselor has developed programs to get students out into the public and ready for the next step in life.
Jacksboro High School counselor Dori Taylor said she is working with senior parents to help them advance students out into the real world with her annual senior parent meeting. Thirty-five senior parents attended the meeting.
Motivational Monday is a time where videos go out randomly to students on such subjects as anxiety and mental health. Taylor will be hosting an adulting class for seniors in November which will teach them a number of things on how to be an adults, including changing a tire.
Another program designed for juniors which was very successful last year was a real world class where juniors get to pick areas of the real world they are interested in like an etiquette class, how to balance a checkbook, how to change a tire and others.
Taylor said the district plans on working with county schools Bryson and Perrin to see if their students would like to participate Terri Stretcher, JMS counselor, said she spends much of her time working on relationships most notably “girl drama” but does a lot more. She has started putting out a faculty newsletter which has received a lot of positive feedback. That includes a calendar to keep everyone up to date on happenings around the school.
She has also started to add school menus as well after some recommendations.
Along with the faculty, each grade also has a newsletter which focuses on subjects directly relatable to them. Sixth grade, for example, will have subjects such as bullying and self-esteem. Seventh graders will have subjects such as respect along with college and career choices. Eighth grade puts more of focus on college and career but to emphasize their are trade and vocational schools out there along with going into the military.
Stretcher has also started a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) class for 8th grade girls which meets twice a month. One class focuses on resumes, interviews and how to dress. Another class has a guest speaker who is a female involved in STEM careers.
“The girls are excited and have a lot of potential,” Stretcher noted.
JES Counselor Teresa Howard has been focusing on hitting every classroom once a month and providing responsive services to things such as anxiety, the loss of a parent and sick families due to COVID. She runs into parents needing assistance on how to handle a family member struggling with tornado-related issues.
She runs small group counseling sessions and has had new student luncheons to start the school year. To make the transition easier, she brings existing students to the luncheon so the new students will know at least one student.
