School Counselor
Mrs. Croft is a full time counselor at Cedar Lane. This is her 25th year as a counselor in Loudoun County. Mrs. Croft completed her studies at Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelors Degree in Family and Child Development and a Masters Degree in School Counseling. Go Hokies! In her spare time Mrs. Croft enjoys spending time with her family, reading and playing outdoors. She looks forward to a wonderful, exciting school year at Cedar Lane.
Counseling
Cedar Lane Elementary School’s Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT) – comprised of school counselors, psychologist, and social worker – offers mental health services and supports to enhance student social, emotional, and behavioral growth. This team of school-based mental health professionals works with students, families, school staff, and outside providers to promote a positive school environment that supports student success and ability to cope with challenges through direct (e.g., classroom curriculum, group counseling and individual counseling) and indirect (e.g., collaborating or consulting with staff, families or communities) methods.
Click the names/links below to contact team members.
(571)252-2120
Cedar Lane Es Unified Mental Health Team
Cortney Croft
Mrs. Horner
Mrs. Horner is thrilled to begin her fifth year as a school counselor at Cedar Lane! Born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania, she received her BS in Psychology from Liberty University and her M.Ed in School Counseling from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband have three children - all Cedar Lane Lions! - and as a family they enjoy spending time exploring the great outdoors. Mrs. Horner loves strong coffee, big adventures, people of all ages, and sunshine. Her greatest passion is helping students discover their own unique strengths and grow into their purpose and potential. She is looking forward to helping her students begin to understand and appreciate all of their special qualities this year!
SchooLinks is a modern, college and career readiness platform to prepare students for what comes after graduation. SchooLinks helps students discover their interests and strengths, explore colleges and careers, and create an individualized career and academic plan that best reflects their post-secondary goals. SchooLinks at Loudoun County Public Schools is accessible in Kindergarten through 12th grade by students and their parents. SchooLinks features are incredibly user-friendly and were designed to streamline the college and career readiness workflow for counselors and staff.
This platform is designed to meet the needs of our students as they make meaningful contributions to the world!
What Students and Families Can Do
Access to K-5 platform with college and career exploration lessons and activities
Portfolio building capabilities for K-12th grade students
Access career interest, strength and mindset surveys
Explore 2-year and 4-year colleges as well as take virtual reality college campus tours
Search for scholarships and learn about financial aid
Explore traditional, emerging and military career fields and internship/volunteer opportunities
Create digital portfolios and resumes
Build ACP and ACPP
Communicate with counselors
School business partnership portal
LCPS School Counselors are currently undergoing training in SchooLinks, and while they learn more about the platform, we ask that questions about SchooLinks be directed to: LCPS School Counselors Help .
School Counseling Mission and Vision
Cedar Lane Elementary School Counseling Mission Statement
The mission of the Cedar Lane counseling program is to work closely and collaboratively with students, staff, families and the community to provide a safe environment that promotes the academic, career and social/emotional development of all students.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Cedar Lane counseling program is to provide culturally responsive counseling services to ensure all students succeed in school and are prepared for meaningful, productive living.
Our Bullying Prevention Coordinator is Mr Jonathan Tracey, Assistant Principal. If you have any concerns regarding bullying, please contact him at jonathan.tracey@lcps.org.
Loudoun County Public Schools implement a county-wide bullying prevention program to teach students how to identify bullying behavior and appropriate ways to solve possible bullying concerns. LCPS School Counselors provide a Bullying Prevention curriculum (through Second Step) which is delivered to all students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. This evidence-based program provides students with four bullying prevention lessons each year. The lesson focuses on 3R’s, and teaches students how to Recognize, Report, and Refuse bullying behavior.
Parents Resources:
Second Step Bullying Prevention Curriculum
Kids Against Bullying (Pacer)
National Bullying Prevention Center (Pacer)
Committee for Children Bullying Prevention
Stop Bullying
Captain Compassion
PBIS Bullying Prevention
Counseling Objectives
Grade | Domain | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
Kindergarten | Academic | - Understand the expectations of the educational environment |
- Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed | ||
- Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal | ||
Career | - Demonstrate goal setting | |
Personal/Social | - Demonstrate good manners and respectful behavior towards others | |
First Grade | Academic | - Understand the importance of individual effort, hard work, and persistence |
- Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed | ||
- Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal | ||
Career | - Understand the concept of job and career | |
- Understand the importance of teamwork in working towards a common goal | ||
Personal/Social | - Understand how to make and keep friends and work cooperatively with others | |
- Identify resource people in the school and community and understand how to seek their help | ||
Second Grade | Academic | - Demonstrate individual initiative and a positive interest in learning |
- Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed | ||
- Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal | ||
Career | - Understand that behaviors such as punctuality, courtesy, proper dress, and proper language are essential to current and future success | |
Personal/Social | - Exhibit the principles of character, including honesty, trustworthiness, respect for the rights and property of others, respect for rules and laws, taking responsibility for one’s own actions, fairness, caring, and citizenship | |
Third Grade | Academic | - Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed |
- Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal | ||
Career | - Understand the relationship of individual effort, hard work, and persistence to achievement | |
Personal/Social | - Understand that Americans are one people of many diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and national origins who are united as Americans by common customs and traditions | |
- Understand the importance of short-term and long-term goals | ||
Fourth Grade | Academic | - Demonstrate time management and organizational skills |
- Apply study skills necessary for academic achievement | ||
Career | - Recognize the benefits of both individual initiative and teamwork | |
- Identify hobbies and interests | ||
Personal/Social | - Understand decision-making and problem-solving strategies | |
Fifth Grade | Academic | - Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses related to learning |
- Understand the choices, options, and requirements of the middle school environment | ||
Career | - Recognize that the changing workplace requires lifelong learning | |
- Identify career choices through exploration | ||
Personal/Social | - Understand change as a part of growth | |
- Identify the emotional and physical dangers of substance use and abuse | ||
- Use strategies for managing peer pressure | ||
Counseling Program
Each Loudoun County Public School has a school guidance and counseling program. Licensed counselors are responsible for the organization and managment of guidance programs in the schools. Counselors work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to help students succeed in school and prepare for meaningful, productive living. Guidance programs are child-centered, developmental, and preventive, and also encourage student's academic, social/emotional, and career awareness at each stage of their development. Guidance services are inclusive and respectul of differences in gender, religion, ethnicity, race, ability, handicapping condition and age.
Classroom Guidance
Classroom guidance lessons are presented at each grade level, every other week, and cover a variety of areas outlined in the Virginia Guidance Program. The lessons will be planned to benefit the entire class and address developmental issues common to all elementary students. Most lessons will focus on the state mandated Character Education Program but may also address; bullying, how to get along well with others, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility, developing study skills and career exploration.
Additional Counseling Services:
Individual Counseling - If your child is experiencing any issues of concern or special obstacles, please let us know and we will work with your child on an individual basis.
Consultation with parents and/or teachers is offered to discuss any problem a child may have that interferes with their academic or social achievement. Parents may call the school to set up an appointment to discuss any questions of concerns they may have.
Parent Resource Library -The guidance department offers a number of different materials and resources available for parents. These resources cover a wide range of different topics and situations that your family or child may be experiencing. Such topics include how to talk to your child about the death of a loved one, getting through a family divorce or separation, etc. Materials may be checked out through the guidance department.
In light of recent current events, while our in-school supports may look different, they are not gone. LCPS remains devoted to providing a safe, empathetic, respectful and supportive learning environment; rejecting racism, racialized violence and discrimination of any kind. We are committed to working diligently to support equity among our students and community.
Below please find multiple resources that may assist you in addressing the topic of racism with your child. Our intent is to offer these resources as options for you to explore, but we also recognize this list is not comprehensive or exhaustive. If you have a resource that you have found particularly helpful, please feel free to email us to share:
Engaging in Conversations about Race
Parent & Educator Resources
As the events of the past year have unfolded in Washington, D.C. and around our nation, it is important that we - as educators and parents - stay aware of the thoughts and feelings our students may have about what they may see and hear on television and social media outlets. Below are several resources for initiating conversations and guiding children through these unique times:
Articles & Websites:
Other Resources: