Many parents and guardians wonder what the ESS does within the school. Most remember having a guidance counselor from their school years, but the role of the ESS, particularly in the K-5 school years, looks a little different than a traditional counseling role. The ESS divides time among many tasks in support of students. Primarily, these include individual and small group work with students, teaching developmental classroom lessons, connecting families to resources, and collaborating with parents, staff, and community members.

As an ESS, I may deliver developmental social-emotional lessons in your child's classroom. Please talk with your child about what they may be learning during these lessons to make use of that teachable moment. I also run small groups which meet weekly, on various topics to support social-emotional growth, as well as daily or weekly check-ins with students who need extra emotional and/or behavioral support. 

On a daily basis, I collaborate and consult with parents, teachers, and administrators. I work closely with parents, as needed, to support their child's ability to learn and be successful at school. I also consult with school psychologists, social workers, mental health agencies, and other individuals and organizations which are available in the community to support our students.

And, when I'm not in a meeting or working with students, I'm often visiting classrooms, the cafeteria, or even spending time on the playground with students. 

In short, I am here to help. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about what I do here to support the Serene Lake community. 

What is an Elementary Support Specialist (ESS)?

As an ESS, I am trained in understanding the social-emotional and behavioral needs of students, just as other educators are trained in math, science, or language arts. My goal is to develop, implement and evaluate proactive programs designed to meet the needs of ALL students. 

How do I (or my child) connect with the ESS?

There are many ways your child can speak with the elementary support specialist (ESS). Your child can write me a note and ask the office staff to put it in my box. Your child can tell the teacher (or office staff) he/she would like to talk to the ESS and the teacher (or staff member) will email me. Your child can also ask me when he/she sees me in the classroom, in the lunchroom, on the playground, or in the hallways. 

Parents can contact the ESS with any student concerns. Please feel free to call or email me. If I am unable to help you, I am happy to refer you to a wide variety of resources that I have.

Please be aware of my sincere respect for confidentiality.