help advocate for 2 full-time counselors at Barretts

 
Currently, Barretts has only 1.5 counselors, including Mr. Steward, who splits his time between two schools. This situation is unsustainable and limits the support available to our students. We need to address this gap to ensure all students receive consistent, proactive care rather than being reactive when issues arise.
 
What You Can Do to Help:
  • Email the Board of Education + Superintendents: We’ve provided an email template below. Send your message to the board and superintendents around the following dates: September 11, 2024; December 11, 2024; March 12, 2025; and June 11, 2025.
  • Share Your Story: If you’ve seen the positive impact of counseling services on your child, share your story in an email or speak at a board meeting. Personal stories highlight the real need for full-time emotional support.
 
Board of Education Email Addresses+ Superintendents:
 
Sample Email Subject: Follow-Up Request: Full-Time Counselor Position at Barretts Elementary
 
Sample Email Body:
Dear Parkway School District Leadership,
 
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to follow up on our previous request for additional counseling support at Barretts Elementary. Now that the 2024-2025 school year is underway, the need for equitable staffing to address the emotional, social, and academic needs of our students is more urgent than ever.
 
Currently, Barretts Elementary has only 1.5 counselors, including Mr. Steward, who divides his time between two schools. This arrangement significantly limits the support available to our students and teachers. While the full-time mental health specialists are essential for Tier 3 therapy services, this doesn’t address the need for proactive Tier 1 and 2 supports, such as lessons, group activities, and check-ins with students who rely on trusted adults.
 
Students need consistent relationships with adults they know and trust to feel comfortable opening up. Without dedicated time for those of us providing Tier 1 and 2 supports, we risk being reactive rather than proactive, missing opportunities to address issues before they escalate.
 
According to Parkway School District’s 2022-2023 data, over 25% of elementary students have been identified as needing some level of emotional or mental health support. With only 1.5 counselors at Barretts, it is difficult to meet the growing demand and provide timely, individualized care to each student.
 
Parkway’s mission emphasizes that “each student will become a capable, curious, caring, and confident learner who understands and responds to the challenges of an ever-changing world.” In order to fulfill this mission, it is critical that we provide students with consistent access to mental health resources. Having two full-time counselors at Barretts Elementary, as the majority of schools in the district have, would align with Parkway’s vision of “personalized, innovative learning experiences” and ensure that every student receives the support they need to succeed.
 
Providing equitable counseling services is essential to creating the inclusive and nurturing environment Parkway strives to offer all students. With an additional full-time counselor, we can better address the emotional and academic needs of our students, ensuring they have the resources to thrive.
 
We respectfully request that you reconsider our appeal for two full-time counselors at Barretts Elementary. Your leadership can help bridge the gap in services and ensure that all Parkway students, regardless of their school, receive the attention they deserve.
 
Thank you for your time and consideration. We are hopeful that together, we can take the necessary steps to support the well-being and success of all our students.
 
[Your Signature]
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