Two Neenah elementary schools were among 10 schools honored statewide with “Program of Promise” awards by the Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA).
Hoover Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School each received the award, which is the highest recognition that a comprehensive school counseling program can receive from the WSCA. They were the only two schools in the Northeastern Wisconsin area to receive the award. Wilson received the award for the second straight year.
School counselors submit a Wisconsin School Counseling Program Accountability Report highlighting their data driven program, student results in the career, academic and social emotional domains and school climate and safety. The peer-reviewed report must meet and exceed stringent content standards for award consideration. The reports are reviewed once per year by a panel of school counseling professionals.
Hoover counselor Katie Kessen-Checki implemented a developed a peer mediation program with hopes of decreasing the number of behavior referrals. A group of 25 students were trained to mediate conflicts and received continuing coaching from the counselor. The number of minor office referrals from January to May was cut in half and the number of major referrals dropped from 77 in 2016-17 to 22 in 2017-18. In addition, seven students were identified that had a total of 147 days absent in 2016-17. Through work with the counselor and principal, their absences were reduced to 47 in 2017-18.
Wilson counselor Steph Levine-Rankin connects families to resources, including the weekend “Snack Pack” program, the “Wilson Wardrobe” and holiday giving programs. Levine-Rankin has also been a strong advocate for the mental health resources offered in the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes through Positive Engagement) program. Levine-Rankin helped improve attendance rates for economically-disadvantaged students by running small groups, setting goals, creating incentive plans and communicating the importance of attendance to parents. She also focused on helping fifth graders identify potential careers. Following the unit, 94 percent of fifth graders were able to identify a career they might be interested in, compared to 51 percent prior to the unit.
“Our entire counseling staff at all levels does a truly incredible job,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Pfeiffer. “This award recognizes just two examples of the great things happening throughout out District. It’s remarkable the impact our counselors have on our students in so many different aspects.”
Other winners were Burlington High School; E.P. Rock, Hudson Prairie and Willow River Elementary Schools in Hudson; Kettle Moraine High School; New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School; Olga Brenner Intermediate School in Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls Elementary/Middle School.
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