In celebration of National School Counseling Week, CUSD Insider is showcasing profiles of the fantastic counselors we have throughout the District.
Today we are highlighting Jennifer Hatfield, Elementary School Counselor at Hidden Hills Elementary School.
Q: How long have you worked in CUSD?
A: I have worked at CUSD for 3 years as a school counselor and 5 years in Special Education as an Independence Facilitator
Q: Describe your role in supporting student success at your school or in your department.
A: My role as an elementary school counselor in supporting student success is providing all students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to achieve academic success, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development. This is provided to my students through teaching monthly classroom lessons to all students, individual and small group short-term counseling, and providing school-wide programs (Bullying Prevention Month, Red Ribbon Week, Kindness Week, College & Career Week, Mental Health Wellness Week). Some other programs I provide to my students are a weekly lunch bunch with every grade level where we discuss many different topics such as study/organization skills, SMART goals, friendship skills, coping skills, kindness/empathy, etc. I also support student success at my school by helping to create a positive school climate through a group called “Kindness Crew”. Students in Kindness Crew meet 1-2 times every month and they identify and carry out different ways to spread kindness in our school and community. This optional program is made available to all 3rd-5th grade students and currently has almost 100 students!
Q: What role do you play in the MTSS framework? How does this program benefit students in your opinion?
A: As with all school counselors, I provide a multi-tier, multi-domain system of support to meet the academic, social-emotional, and college/career needs of all students. These services are provided in three different tiers. Tier 1 supports that I provide to all of my students include: monthly classroom lessons, school-wide activities, lunch bunch, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) assemblies, and parent education workshops. Tier 2 supports (targeted interventions) that I provide to some students include: small group counseling, check and connect (used to help improve attendance), and collaborating with educators, administrators, and parents/guardians. Tier 3 supports (intensive, individualized interventions) that I provide to a few students may include: short-term individual counseling, crisis support, and referrals to outside services.
Q: How long have you worked professionally in school counseling?
A: I have worked as a school counselor for 5 years. I started working as an elementary school counselor in Oceanside Unified School District and helped them create their first comprehensive counseling program at two elementary schools. I was excited to move to Capistrano Unified School District as this is where all my kids have attended school and I couldn’t wait to work with an amazing team of school counselors at CUSD.
Q: What college degrees and professional certifications do you hold?
A: I have my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling. Through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), I have received certifications as an Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist, Grief and Loss Specialist, School Counseling Data Specialist, and College Admissions Specialist.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about counseling work?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is being around all of my amazing students and seeing them grow both academically and social-emotionally. I also feel so lucky to be at a school with staff and teachers that have huge hearts and genuinely care about every student and are there to support the whole child. It truly is a team effort, and I work with the best team ever!
Q: How do counselors in CUSD help support one another?
A: Counselors in CUSD engage in a community of practice. Elementary counselors meet every month to share what we are doing at our school sites, ask any questions, and share helpful information and resources with each other. We also work as a team to provide monthly counselor newsletters to each of our schools.
Q: What is the one thing you would want families to know about your role in student success that they might not be aware of?
A: Some people may not realize all of the different hats that school counselors wear to help support all of our students and families. Some of the hats we wear are: data specialists (we use data all the time to guide our school counseling program!), we are creative (we publish a counselor newsletter each month, create the counselor’s corner website, and design fliers for spirit weeks and other contests to support our school-wide activities), we can play a great game of handball during recess (we are always looking for ways to connect with our students), we are professional speakers/presenters (we present on different topics at parent workshops and coffee with the principal and counselor), we are puppet masters (just ask your TK or Kindergartener about Puppy and Snail from the counselor lessons!), we are professional shoe fitters (I have measured over 150 students feet this year to help them receive a new pair of shoes from a community grant), we are game experts (we can put together fun and interactive games to help engage students in exploring colleges and careers), and we are the shoulders for our students, families, and staff to support them during their most challenging times.