School Counseling CCE

I'm excited to be returning for my 7th year as school counselor at CCE! As a counselor and educator for over 20 years I have had the opportunity to watch people, young and old, grow and change and discover their potential. From personal experience with childhood trauma, to my current role as a counselor and mom, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for children and families coping with the "stuff" of life - whether everyday stress or in times of crisis. I am honored to be able to serve the Coyote Creek community, to guide and encourage students, parents, and staff through the ups and downs of life.

Hello families! I’m excited to share a little about myself. Before becoming a counselor, I spent more than 20 years teaching elementary school, which gave me a front-row seat to the joys and challenges kids face each day. I’ve had the privilege of supporting many students who have gone through difficult experiences, and one of my biggest passions is helping children navigate stress and anxiety. My goal is to give students practical tools they can use to feel calmer, more confident, and supported at school and beyond. Along the way, I love using humor and real-life stories to connect with kids — helping them see that learning coping skills can be encouraging, relatable, and even a little fun.

Elementary school counselors play a vital role in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional development, acting as advocates for their well-being and success. They provide guidance, counseling, and support to students, as well as collaborating with teachers, parents, and other school staff. Their work helps students develop essential skills, address challenges, and prepare for future success.

• Teaching relational and critical thinking skills

• Weekly lessons led by classroom teachers

• Monthly, building-wide themes and activities

• Connect classroom learning to the future-ready skills needed to succeed in the real world

During the month of September, we will focus on community building. This has been happening in classrooms since the first day of school and will continue year round. But we'll spend a little extra time talking about ways to be a team player, how a kind word or action helps build community, and ways that working together can be more productive than doing things alone.

Inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s insightful book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (published March 26, 2024), which spotlights how our collective choices, especially around screen time and overprotectiveness, have reshaped childhood in ways that can deepen stress and anxiety for our children.
If you’re curious to explore ideas on how we might support more resilient, cooperative kids, this book offers a compelling lens, and some practical starting points.

As parents, we often focus on how our children learn academics and social skills, but there’s another important lesson they practice every day: how to work together for the good of the group. This is where something called a collective action problem comes in.

What is a Collective Action Problem?

A collective action problem happens when what’s best for the group depends on everyone doing their part, but it’s tempting for individuals to “opt out.” Imagine a group project: if everyone works hard, the project shines. But if some students don’t participate, the whole group struggles.

In elementary school, these problems show up in small but meaningful ways:

• Classroom cleanup: Everyone benefits from a tidy room, but a few students may leave the work to others.
  

• Sharing supplies: If each child uses materials responsibly, they last. If not, resources run out quickly.
  

• Group games at recess: Fair play makes the game fun, but if someone ignores the rules, it can ruin the experience for others.
  
  

Why It Matters

Collective action problems teach children about responsibility, fairness, and empathy. When kids understand that their actions impact the whole group, they begin to see themselves as important members of a community , skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

How Parents Can Help at Home

You can support your child’s learning about cooperation and shared responsibility with simple strategies:

1. Model It: Show your child how you pitch in at home, like doing chores together or recycling, and explain how it helps everyone.
   

2. Practice Turn-Taking: Play games that rely on everyone following rules. Praise fairness over winning.
   

3. Talk About “We” Thinking: Use phrases like “We all benefit when…” or “Our family works better when…” to highlight teamwork.
   

4. Set Up Shared Goals: For example, “If everyone helps set the table, we’ll have more time for a family game afterward.”
   
   

Final Thought

Learning to work together in collective action situations helps children grow into thoughtful, cooperative individuals. By practicing at school and home, kids discover that their choices matter, not just for themselves, but for the whole community.

Let Grow was co-founded by Jon Haidt, who says going phone-free is half the battle. We must also give kids back the independence and free play our overprotective culture took away! Let Grow’s (free) programs for schools, parents, and counselors make it easy and normal to get kids do some things on their own again, like playing, exploring, running errands, and being part of the real world.

Debbie Edwards, School Counselor dedwards2@dcsdk12.org

Stephanie Star, Wellness Teacher sstar@dcsdk12.org