Counselor
Counselor – Erica Barry
Welcome to the Lawton Elementary counseling page! My name is Erica Barry, and I am Lawton’s half-time school counselor. I love being part of the Lawton community and am so grateful for another year with your amazing children! Read on for more information about the counseling program at Lawton, and please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns about your students. I look forward to connecting with you!
Ms. Barry 😊
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All Lawton students benefit from the counseling program and have a chance to participate in some way. Our counselor, Ms. Barry, visits classrooms to teach lessons on topics related to social-emotional learning and meets individually with students, helping them navigate and problem-solve concerns including friendship, social skills, impulse control, stress/anxiety, study skills, conflict resolution, and grief/loss.
Teachers and parents are welcome to contact Ms. Barry with referrals and students can self-refer at any time using the counselor’s confidential box in the office.
Our Comprehensive School Counseling Program is aligned with the standards of the American School Counselor Association National Model. The following services and programs are provided:
1. Whole Classroom Guidance Lessons: The purpose of classroom guidance lessons are to teach social-emotional, academic, and college/career skills and information to all students in the classroom setting. Students are participating in the following types of classroom lessons school-wide:
- Problem-solving with Kelso’s Choices: students learn how to identify whether a problem is small or big, and then identify strategies to solve small problems and manage conflicts with increasing independence. Students in 3rd or 4th grade can volunteer during recess as “Kelso helpers” to assist younger students in solving small problems!
- Academic: Lessons on individual learning styles, classroom skills and behaviors that impact learning, and tools and strategies for success
- College and Career: Students explore their hopes and dreams for the future, learn about jobs in the community, identify strengths and interests and research career paths
- Safety: Students learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touch, how to report unsafe behaviors and how to refuse when others are participating in unsafe activities. Curriculum: Second Step: Child Protection Unit (grades K-3)
- Bullying: Student learn the difference between mean behaviors and bullying, how to be an “upstander”, how to handle mean behaviors, and how to report bullying. Curriculum: Second Step: Bullying Prevention Unit (grades 4-5)
2. Small Group Counseling: Small group counseling is provided on a variety of topics, including but not limited to: divorce/two-home families, anxiety, friendship, and middle school readiness.
3. Individual Counseling: Brief Individual counseling is available to students on an as-needed basis or regular check-in basis, by parent/teacher referral or student self-referral.
Additional programming/services:
- Push-in small group intervention in the classroom (social skills, regulation skills, executive function skills re-teaching)
- Crisis intervention and support
- Family support and consultation
- Alternative indoor recess for students once weekly- puzzles, games, and art (grades K-3)
- Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) team member
- Peer mediation and conflict resolution
- Annual school-wide career exploration event
- Kelso’s Choice recess and classroom helper program (grades 3-4)
- Community resource referrals
- Staff support and consultation
Emergency Contacts:
If you are in need of immediate assistance, please use the following resources:
Crisis Line: 206-461-3222
Child Protective/Family Reconciliation Services:
Day: 1-800-609-8764
Night: 1-800-562-5624
Other Types of Assistance Such as Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Healthcare:
Dial: 211 or 206-461-3200