1. Downtown Professional School Counseling Program-
How does this effect my child?
Goals for the year.

2. Dawn Coppinger – Professional School Counselor
Graduated with a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education
Taught Special Education for 8 years in various schools in Des Moines
Graduated from Iowa State University with a Masters degree in Counseling Education
Internship at Merrill Middle School
Taught School Counseling for 2 years at Mann Elementary
Substitute taught for 7 years at various schools in the area
Mother of 4, PTA member, Soccer Board President, VBS Leader, fond pet owner

3. Roles of a Professional School Counselor
Develop and teach classroom counseling lessons for all students in 5/6 to 9/10 rooms
Lead small groups to help identified students strengthen specific skills (friendship, social skills, problem-solving, emotion identification and management, families in transition, grief and loss, etc)
Work with students individually on a short-term basis to get through a crisis or resolve a particular problem
Work with parents and teachers as needed to help students be socially, emotionally and academically successful
Network with and communicate with community agencies to develop resources and provide support to families

4. Professional School Counselor –cont.
Serve on different teams that use behavior and academic data to make school-wide decisions
Meet with parents to discuss concerns or questions they have about their child and if necessary, come up with a plan to resolve a problem
Advocate for our students and families
Manage a wide variety of situations that come up on any given day

5. School Counseling is……
To help ALL students be socially, emotionally, and academically successful

6. Topics taught in classroom counseling
Happy New Year (meet the counselor and discuss what I do and how to get ahold of me)
Anti-Bias and Harassment –Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.
Friendship and Cooperation-Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.
Career Development-Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions. Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction. Students will understand the relationship between person qualities, education, training and the world of work.
Personal Safety- Students will understand safety and survival skills.
Study Skills-Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school across the life span.
Bullying Awareness- Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others. Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals.
Transition to Middle School for 5th grade
Summer Safety (Problem solving for summer activities)