Brenda Carter Assistant Superintendent | Cobb County School District
Brenda Carter Assistant Superintendent | Cobb County School District
Six schools in Cobb County have been recognized for their exceptional school counseling programs as part of National School Counseling Week. These institutions have been awarded the Cobb School Counseling Comprehensive Model Certification (CSCCM) for their innovative approaches to student support, which align with this year's theme: "School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive."
The honored schools include Big Shanty Intermediate School, Kemp Elementary School, Hightower Trail Middle School, Smitha Middle School, Harrison High School, and Walton High School. Each has implemented unique strategies to enhance student success.
At Big Shanty Intermediate, counselors Daniella Mabeus and Beth Parker focused on self-regulation strategies to reduce discipline referrals among 5th graders. Their initiative resulted in a 50% drop in such referrals.
Kemp Elementary's counselors Katie Lunsford and Michelle Stevens introduced a Morning Meeting program that fostered community and reduced discipline referrals by 32%.
Hightower Trail Middle's Suzanne Barber, Sydney Brooks, and Lara Salzman expanded the Preferred Adult Listener (PAL) program to address peer conflict. Their efforts led to a 33% decline in disciplinary infractions.
Smitha Middle's team—Nichole McCroskey, Michael Stokes, and Charkeshia Toatley—implemented interventions that resulted in a 34% decrease in discipline referrals.
Harrison High's counselors focused on helping 9th-grade Hispanic students improve graduation rates. This initiative led to a 77% increase in passing rates for core subjects among these students.
Walton High's team worked with English Language Learners (ELL) to improve End of Course exam results. Their targeted support saw a 60% increase in students achieving Proficient Learner status.
These achievements underscore the vital role of school counseling programs in supporting student development and success across Cobb County schools.