School Counseling CCE

I'm excited to be returning for my 8th year as school counselor at CCE! It's been so fun to watch your children grow and mature and discover their potential over the past several years.

Read more about me at CCE School Counseling Website.

I'm looking forward to another great year ahead!

Debbie Edwards

My name is Jeff Brown, and I am very excited to be joining Coyote Creek to complete my internship in School Counseling. While I am new to the field of counseling, I have been an educator since 2002. My teaching experience includes time as a middle school science teacher, 4th grade teacher, and 6th grade math teacher.

I am originally from Michigan, but have called Colorado home for the past 15 years. My spouse and I have two boys who are 14 and 12 years old. In my spare time I love playing sports, being outside, baking, board games, and discovering new things.

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

In addition to one full time counselor this year, we will also have a part-time counseling intern available to assist Mrs. Edwards in the support of students, families and staff. Join us in welcoming Mr. Jeff Brown to the counseling team!

Our school-wide theme this year is centered around increasing childhood independence. Counseling lessons, classroom activities and whole school assemblies are being designed with the purpose of helping each and every student step out of their comfort zone and try something new - on their own! But we can't do it without you!

Over the next several weeks we are challenging students to think of something they want to do on their own. We'll be sending information home to guide you and your student through this process. As they complete projects we'll be discussing it in future counseling lessons and sharing their experiences school-wide on our Independence Wall outside the front office.

Click below for the activity guide based on your child's grade. And have fun watching them learn new things and step out of their comfort zone!

Based on research into smartphone and social media use as well as neuroscience and the developing adolescent brain, there are four norms suggested in order to roll back the effects of this phone-based childhood:

1. No smartphones before high school
2. No social media before 16
3. Phone-free schools, from bell to bell
4. More independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world

While no school or district can dictate when parents allow their child to have a device or social media access outside of school, the reality is that our digital landscape has an impact on students, even in elementary school. The following tips are based on issues we see pop up every year among our students at CCE and we hope they will help you and your child navigate these tricky waters.

As our elementary students grow, their desire to connect with friends grows too. For many families, this means introducing a smartphone or other devices and apps that allow for texting, calls and chat. While these devices are great for staying in touch, they also open the door to a complex digital world that young minds are still learning to navigate.

Here is a look at the hidden pitfalls of early phone use and how you can set healthy boundaries at home.

The Pitfalls of Group Texts and Calls

While social media often gets the most attention, elementary students usually face their first digital hurdles in standard texting, group chats, and FaceTime calls.

• The "always on" pressure: Group chats can accumulate hundreds of messages in minutes. This creates an intense fear of missing out (FOMO) and causes children to feel overwhelmed or glued to their screens.
• Misunderstood tones: Without tone of voice or facial expressions, a joke can easily look like an insult. Misunderstandings happen fast and can lead to hurt feelings that often carry over into school the next day.
• Accidental exclusion: Young children do not always understand social nuances. Leaving someone out of a group text or starting a secondary chat without a friend can cause significant emotional distress.
• A stepping stone to social media: Even if your child does not have apps like TikTok or Instagram, group texts often mimic social media dynamics. Kids share memes, videos, and links, which can expose them to mature content before they are ready.

Practical Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries

You do not have to wait for a problem to occur to take action. You can proactively set boundaries that protect your child’s emotional well-being and teach them digital responsibility.

• Establish central charging stations: Keep bedrooms completely screen-free at night. Digital drama often escalates when kids are tired and unsupervised. Have all devices plug into a central family station by a set time each evening.
• Keep calls in common areas: Encourage your child to take FaceTime, phone, or group video calls in the living room or kitchen instead of behind a closed bedroom door. This allows you to naturally monitor the tone of the conversation.
• Teach the "Billboard Rule": Before your child hits send on a text or photo, ask them: "Would you want this displayed on a giant billboard outside our school for your teachers and classmates to see?" If the answer is no, they should not send it.
• Normalize the exit strategy: Give your child permission to leave a group chat that becomes unkind, chaotic, or inappropriate. Teach them a simple exit phrase, like: "This chat is moving too fast for me, I'm logging off!"
• Co-pilot, don't just spy: Frame your involvement as mentorship rather than surveillance. Periodically sit down with your child and look through their chats together. Use it as an opportunity to praise kind behavior and gently correct misunderstandings.

By treating digital literacy as a life skill—much like learning to cross the street—we can help our students enjoy the benefits of technology while staying safe and emotionally healthy.

CCE is well staffed with specially trained professionals who assist with mental health concerns and the safety of our students. While School Counselors work with general education students, Kristine Hammond, our School Psychologist, and Michele Thompson, our Social Worker, work primarily with students receiving specialized education services (IEPs). However, in a mental health or safety crisis for ANY student, we are all available to help.

If you have a question or concern regarding the mental wellbeing or safety of your own child, please reach out! One of us will be happy to speak with you and help you find the right resources for you and your family.

Mental Health Referral Form

Please note: There is no guarantee that school staff will see or respond to your form submission after school hours, during vacations, holidays, or weekends. If this is an emergency, please contact the appropriate authorities:

• Local Law Enforcement: 911
• Your nearest Emergency Department
• Call or Text 988 (Colorado Crisis Services)
• Live chat at 988Colorado.com
• Walk-in Crisis Center locations throughout Colorado
• Download the Safe2Tell App

Debbie Edwards, School Counselor dedwards2@dcsdk12.org