My name is Debbie Poland. This is my 17th, and final  year to serve as a counselor in Limestone County. I served grades 9-12 at Clements High School for 6 years, then transferred to an Itinerant position between Johnson Elementary School and East Limestone.  At Johnson I worked with grades K-5, and did 9th grade counseling at East.  East kept growing and my responsibilites there became full time and 10th was added to my counseling load.

Prior to becoming a counselor, I taught elementary school for 23 years! I received my B.S. Degree in Elementry Education from UNA in 1976,  and earned my Master's degree in School Counseling from UNA in 2003.

I am married and my husband and I have a blended family of 4 children.  They are all grown now and out on their own, but make us very proud.  We also have 5 grandchildren!  That's the best part of growing old, when those grandkids start coming!

In my free time I enjoy church activities, spending time with my family, and traveling.

I love being an elementary school counselor!  The hugs I get daily keep me smiling.

GUIDANCE and COUNSELING OVERVIEW

The primary focus of elementary school guidance and counseling programs is education and prevention. The goal is to help students become happy, effective individuals and learners. This is accomplished through developmentally appropriate activities such as classroom guidance lessons, small groups, and individual counseling sessions.

CLASSROOM GUIDANCE

Classroom guidance lessons are taught to every student at Blue Springs Elementary. These lessons are developmentally appropriate and are generally preventive in nature. The goals of these lessons is to equip students with skills that will help them to become self-directed, joyful learners; clear and effective communicators; creative problem-solvers, and productive, responsible citizens….now and in the future.

SMALL GROUP COUNSELING

Small groups are offered throughout the year to all grade levels, as needed. Topics include:

·         Developing Self-Confidence

·         Making and Keeping Friends

·         Anger Management

·         Coping With Family Changes

·         Organizational and Study Skills

 These groups are a wonderful way for students to meet new friends, gain confidence, and develop coping skills.

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

 Students may benefit from individual time with the counselor. Areas typically addressed through individual counseling include, but not limited to:

·         Friendship issues

·         Difficulty in the classroom (academically or behaviorally)

·         Difficulty on the playground or bus

·         Anger management

·         New student orientation

·         Difficulty coming to school

·         Grief

·         Family issues

 Referrals to meet individually with the counselor may be made by teachers, parents, or students themselves.

If you have questions or concerns about your child or the guidance and counseling program at Blue Springs, please call Debbie Poland, 256-729-4092, or email me at debbie.poland@lcsk12.org