Three counselors get $1,000 grants for excellence from San Diego Downtown Kiwanis

Longtime Counseling Department supporter Kiwanis Club of San Diego has awarded three, $1,000 grants to school counselors Nico Negrette of Balboa Elementary in Shelltown, Clara Hayashigawa from Miller Elementary in Tierrasanta, and Trina Lee, head counselor at Hoover High in City Heights.

During the 2012-2013 school year, it sponsored an incentive project to support the school counselors with the Six-Step Accountability Process known as MEASURES (Mission, Element, Analyze, Stakeholders-Unite, Results, Educate Stakeholders) and subsequent Results Reporting. School counselors who participated in this process drafted their MEASURES with principal support and monitored the progress of their students.

At the end of the 2012-2013 school year, they presented their results through a peer review process and three school counselors were recognized at the All School Counselors’ Opening Meeting on September 19 at San Diego State University.

 San Diego Unified School District extends its congratulations to all three recipients and their gratitude to the Kiwanis Club of San Diego for its continued support.

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Madison High counselor helps keep African American, Latino boys on track

Meet Roana Clark, Madison’s Dropout Prevention Program Mentor.

Known as "Ms. Penny," a nickname given to her by her oldest brother, Clark works with students and families as part of Madison’s Safe and Supportive Schools initiative. Now in its third school year and supported by a grant from the California Department of Education, Clark works with young African American and Latino men, and their families.

The men are struggling in school; she provides guidance, intervention and support when needed. She monitors student attendance, conferences with students and often their parents, conducts home visits and provides tutoring and homework help after school.

Her goal is to get young men thinking about their future and taking responsibility for their achievement. African American and Latino males are consistently clustered at the bottom of the achievement scale and are more likely than any other group to be suspended or expelled from school, according to several studies. Getting involved with these students early, before larger problems develop, is an effective ways to prevent some of the challenges that these young men face as they become young adults and enter adulthood.

"Ms. Penny has a talent for encouraging young men to take an interest in their academic progress and responsibility for their actions," said Richard Nash, Madison principal. "She is also an advocate for parents when they have a concern about their student’s progress or behavior at school. She is one of the staff members to whom teachers turn to when they think a young man can benefit from extra guidance and support."

Ms. Penny has a Master’s degree in counseling, education and guidance and has worked with students and families in San Diego Unified from elementary through middle school, and now in high school. Many Madison students know her from Lindbergh/Schweitzer Elementary School, where she worked from 2005-09.

Ms. Penney is based in Madison’s Family Resource Center (Bungalow B6). For more information, contact Clark at rclark2@sandi.net or 858-496-8410 ext. 4056.

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National School Counseling Week is Feb. 4-8

National School Counseling Week will be celebrated Feb. 4-8 to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. This special week, sponsored by the American School Counselors Assn., highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. This year’s theme is "School Counseling: Liberty and Learning for All."

The week provides the opportunity to honor and thank school counselors for the important role they play in helping students examine their talents, strengths, abilities and interests. Counselors work in professional partnerships with teachers and support personnel to provide an educational system where students can realize their true potential. As all educators focus their efforts on improving academic achievement for all students, it is important that we recognize school counselors for their continuing efforts in reducing barriers to learning and in providing the support necessary for all students to achieve at the highest level.

For information about San Diego Unified's Counseling and Guidance program, visit the Counseling and Guidance Department website.

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Board President, Mayor, local psychologists join to make schools safer

Dr. John Lee Evans, Board President and a clinical psychologist, has announced that the San Diego Psychological Association, City of San Diego, the San Diego Unified School District and others will be joining to provide a community-wide solution to the problem of extreme violence against schools.

The news conference, held Jan. 22, included Evans, Board of Education District E member Marnie Foster, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, San Diego City Council Member David Alvarez, San Diego Unified School District Police Chief Rueben Littlejohn, San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, and representatives of the San Diego Psychological Association. ASB presidents Daniel Hamilton from La Jolla High and Marcus Dearing from University City High also joined the call for change.

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