Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to another school year! We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. We have three amazing school counselors at our school, Kaitlyn Gerber, Jeanne Peterson, and Nicola Richards. Miss Gerber will be working with 1st & 2nd grades, Ms. Peterson will be working with Kindergarten & 3rd grades, and Ms. Richards will be working with 4th & 5th grades.

Loudoun County Public Schools approach to school counseling is educational and preventative. We provide a comprehensive school counseling program focusing on academic, personal/social and career development, within a safe, supportive, caring and nurturing environment.  Our program is aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model and covers standards for ASCA, the state of Virginia, and Loudoun County.

We look forward to working with you and your child and hope you have an enjoyable school year. Please feel free to contact us at Jeanne.Peterson@lcps.org, Nicola.Richards@lcps.org, or Kaitlyn.Gerber@lcps.org, or by phone at (571) 434-3270.

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn Gerber, Jeanne Peterson & Nicola Richards

Counselors Help Students Learn  

• Each school of Loudoun County Public Schools has a school counseling program. Licensed counselors are responsible for the organization and management 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 students’ academic, social/emotional, and career awareness at each stage of their development.

• Guidance services are inclusive and respectful of differences in gender, religion, ethnicity, race, ability, handicapping condition, and age.

What Does a School Counselor Do?

• Provides systematic and developmental classroom guidance to all students

• Counsels with students individually and/or in groups with signed parental permission

• Responds to student needs in crisis situations

• Orients students to a new school settings

• Participates actively in the referral process of students to special programs and/or services

• Analyzes test results to provide information about abilities, achievement, interests and needs

• Coordinates efforts with other school specialists

• Conducts conferences with parents

• Facilitates parent discussion groups

• Adheres to ethical and legal standards

Why Do Parents Contact a School Counselor?

• Academic achievement

• New school registration, orientation, and transition

• Test interpretation

• Special needs of students

• Student crisis situations

• Family transitions

• Higher education issues