Counselors

Danasha Hill

Counselor for 3rd-5th grade
Email
254-542-3070 

What Is a School Counselor?

A School Counselor is an educator trained in counseling.  They are part of the educational leadership team that provides direct assistance to students and works collaboratively with parents, faculty, and staff.  School Counselors attend to the personal, social, emotional, academic, and career development of students. 

What Services Are Provided By School Counselors?

School Counselors are trained and certified to provide individual, small group, and crisis counseling, classroom guidance, and peer mediation services to students.  They also consult and collaborate with parents, faculty, and administrators to plan for the individual needs of students. 

Cyberbullying Websites

Parent Toolkit

At Williams/Ledger Elementary, we strive to educate every student well. We believe that the best way to do that is for schools to partner with parents and the community to help educate children.

Parents are a critical factor in children’s educational success because they are a child’s first and best teachers. Research has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education perform at higher levels than those whose parents are not involved.

So we encourage parents to get involved in a variety of ways. Parents can make sure children understand the importance of education, and they can help children learn outside of school. Below are some tips for helping your elementary student learn at home as well as in school.

The first one is the most important: Read. Read to your child. Read with your child. Let your child see you reading every day, so that he or she understands the importance of learning to read well.

  • Read to and with your child, and have your child read to you.

  • Encourage your child to keep a journal of daily events.

  • Keep books available to your child, and make regular trips to the public library.

  • When you shop for groceries, have your child help you find items and then estimate the cost of the purchase.

  • Discuss different kinds of jobs and careers in your community to help your child understand that school prepares them for a career.

  • Visit museums, zoos and city art exhibits with your child.

  • Help your child identify and set fitness goals. Make walking, hiking or biking a family activity.

  • Talk to your child about the importance of education.

  • Meet with your child’s teachers regularly to monitor progress.

  • Compliment your child’s work and success in school.

  • Make sure your child does each day’s homework assignment. Set aside a quiet place for homework and set a regular time each day for it.

  • Listen to music together, and have art materials (crayons, paint, brushes, pencils, paper) available at home.

How Parents Can Help Children Do Their Best on Tests

The best thing you as a parent can do to help your child do his/her best on the STAAR and District Benchmarks is to provide positive support by expressing confidence in your child's ability to do their best.  Children should know that test scores are important, but are not the measure of your love and acceptance of them.

On tests days, try to provide a calm, stress-free environment each morning as your child gets ready and prepares for the school day.  Get up in plenty of time to avoid rushing around and anxiety.  Try to limit nighttime extra-curricular activities and outings that may interfere with their regular bedtime routine.

Help your child by teaching and reinforcing the following test-taking tips and strategies:

  • Get Plenty of Rest Each Night

  • Eat a Healthy Breakfast

  • Have a Positive Attitude

  • Relax

  • Try Hard and Do Your Best

  • Listen Carefully and Follow Directions

  • Think Before You Answer

  • Read Directions and Questions Carefully

  • Don't Rush

  • Check Over Your Work When Finished

Kindergarten Parenting Tips

Starting school is a big milestone in a child’s development. It’s important to have your child rested and ready for school every day so that he or she is prepared to learn. Making sure that your child enjoys kindergarten can make the transition to first grade more successful too.