School Counseling

Maritza Zea, Lower School Counselor

ForeveraSchoolCounselor

My most memorable job in education was working as a School Counselor at Sagemont Preparatory School more than two decades ago in reflection, one of the best decisions I ever made. I met with over one hundred students a week and spent my time either doing individual or small-group counseling, teaching social-emotional learning or planning my next lesson or program to help overallstudentwell-being.

My School Counseling program at Sagemont Preparatory was, in many respects, ahead of its time. The school’s leaders knew the benefits of embedding social-emotional learning into classroom instruction, which became part of a skill set I mastered. At first, going into classrooms was sometimes overwhelming but always invaluable and necessary. Working with students in their classrooms gives you additional insight into how they act and interact with others and provides the opportunity to deliver information and curriculum to all. I enjoyed the experience mainly because I had time to connect with students as individuals. I spent time with students that relied on school as theironlysafe,secureplace.

So much of the work I have done is about building, developing, and nurturing relationships with students,staff,families,andthecommunity.Ialwaysmademyselfavailabletoguideandsupportall studentsandfamiliesinanywayIwasabletoorconnectthemtotherightresources.

I have implemented various programs and initiatives throughout my tenure to foster kindness, character development, community engagement, a growth mindset, and overall well-being. Some impactfulprogramsthathaveshapedourschoolcultureandenrichedthelivesofourstudentsfrom preschoolthroughfifthgradearelistedbelow.

1. The Great Kindness Challenge: It is a global initiative that encourages acts of kindness among students. Providing students with a checklist of kind deeds empowers them to spread positivity and compassion throughout our school community. Students eagerly embraced this challenge, and all felttherippleeffectoftheirkindacts.

2. Character Education: Character education is integral to the school counseling curriculum. We incorporated lessons and activities emphasizing core values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, and empathy. By nurturing these qualities, we aimed to develop well-rounded individuals who would positively contribute to society.

3. Unite Against Bullying: The school celebrates each October Unity Day as a standout National Bullying Prevention Month event. Unity Day focuses on promoting kindness and taking a stanceagainst bullying.

4. Red Ribbon Week: During Red Ribbon Week, we raised awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and promoted healthy choices. Through themed activities, educational resources, and discussions, we empowered students to make informed decisions and lead drug-free lives.

5. Career Day: The school-wide career day program created opportunities for the students to experience a diverse presentation of age-appropriate careers and learn the necessary educational skills needed for these careers and how one’s passions and interests can spark big ideas, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

6. Mindfulness: We introduced morning mindfulness practices to promote emotional well-being in early childhood through fifth grade. Students started their day with calming exercises, breathing techniques, and positive affirmations. This mindful moment at the beginning of the day helps them cultivate self-awareness, reduce stress, and enhance their focus on learning.

7. Walk In My Shoes (WIMS): The Walk In My Shoes program fosters inclusion by providing empathy-building activities designed to teach elementary school-aged children how to be respectful and inclusive of all children, especially those with medical conditions, developmental challenges, or learning differences.

8. Safer, Smarter Kids: The Safer, Smarter Kids is a sexual abuse prevention curriculum for early childhood and kindergarten students. Through age-appropriate lessons and discussions, we prepared the students with essential skills to navigate potential risks, including personal boundaries.

9. The 7 Habits of Happy Kids: Through engaging lessons and practical applications, we encouraged students to develop habits such as being proactive, setting goals, and practicing cooperation, ultimately fostering their personal growth and happiness.

10. How Full is Your Bucket Program for Kids: “How Full is Your Bucket?” program taught students the power of kindness and positive interaction. Students learned how words and actions could fill or deplete someone’s emotional bucket.

11. Community Service Projects: Engaging students in community service projects for each grade level from early childhood through fifth grade allowed them to see firsthand that social responsibility through advocacy for a cause of their interest cultivates empathy and appreciation for oneself and others.

Projects: Engaging students in community service projects for each grade level from early childhood through fifth grade allowed them to see firsthand that social responsibility through advocacy for a cause of their interest cultivates empathy and appreciation for oneself and others.

12. Mentoring Program: Our mentoring program, called “Sagemont Siblings,” paired National Honor Society High School students with elementary school students, fostering positive peer relationships and providing academic and social support. Mentors serve as role models, offering guidance and encouragement to their mentees. This program promoted a sense of belonging and facilitated the development of leadership skills.

13. Student Council and Environmental Club: Actively supported the Student Council and Environmental Club activities, allowing the students to take ownership of their school environment by planting, weeding, and caring for the garden beds. These student-led initiatives provided opportunities for leadership collaboration and decision-making, fostering a sense of pride and responsibility among students.

I found school counseling to be greatly rewarding as you have the opportunity to impact students’ lives positively. Through my guidance, I empowered children to navigate challenges, develop social and emotional skills, and achieve academic and personal goals. Partnering with the school leadership team that shared the same passion for our students’ well-being was critical to my success. With the support of the Sagemont leadership team, I built relationships with students and their families and saw them overcome obstacles, gain confidence, and make positive choices. I was fortunate to work with individual children and be part of something bigger: a data-informed school counseling program focused on students’ academic, career, and social-emotional learning opportunities. The lessons I learned helped me establish the Sagemont Preparatory School counseling program as it is today, an essential component of serving our students and meeting their something bigger: a data-informed school counseling program focused on students’ academic, career, and social-emotional learning opportunities. The lessons I learned helped me establish the Sagemont Preparatory School counseling program as it is today, an essential component of serving our students and meeting their needs, not just as students but as young people. This is part of my legacy, my story… forever a School Counselor.