JoLynn Sturek, McKenzie Potthoff and Tara Claridge are teaching Lincoln Public Schools students the ABCs of academics, behavior and careers every day.
 
The three school counselors are part of a large team of LPS professionals who work with children at elementary, middle and high school buildings.
 
Potthoff said she and other school counselors enjoy teaching about all three topics.
 
“So many of our conversations encompass all three domains,” Potthoff said. “I feel lucky that I get so much one-on-one time with my students to talk about all three of those things.”
 
Sturek has been helping sixth graders at Lefler Middle School make successful transitions from their elementary classrooms. She showed them how to use their Google calendars to create task lists and alerts for upcoming tests and assignments.
 
“I think most of the academic planning and interventions that we do, it’s definitely a collaboration between the counseling staff and teachers and administrators and families and students,” Sturek said.
 
Potthoff and the other six school counselors at East High School meet with every senior during the first two months of classes to ask about their career plans.
 
“It’s about connecting school to the world of work and their future and making sure they can go into the world and do what they’re passionate about,” Potthoff said.
 
Claridge visits every McPhee Elementary School classroom each month for lessons about topics such as perseverance, sportsmanship, conflict resolution, managing emotions and having a growth mindset.
 
“The small victories are things we really celebrate here,” Claridge said.
 
Claridge said she and other school counselors want to give students the tools they need to master the ABCs of life.
 
“We have such incredible kids in LPS and here at McPhee,” Claridge said. “I think the more that we can guide them, the more likely it is that they’re going to be independent, awesome adults.”
 
Visit home.lps.org/counseling to learn more about the many ways school counselors are helping students throughout LPS.
 
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