Phone: 205 543 5203

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelors in Science Elementary Education Masters in School Counseling

Mrs. Amanda Wood

OMS GUIDANCE COUNSELING

I am so excited to serve as the Oneonta Middle School counselor for the 2024-25 school year. This is my 20th year to be in education.   I have been married to Daniel Wood for 21 years and we have two children. Madi attends Wallace State Community College and Collin is a 9th grader at Oneonta High School. 

I enjoy working with students and helping them with social/emotional skills as well as making plans to reach their academic goals. I think Oneonta is a great place to work and go to school. Go skins! 

 

    • Oneonta Middle School Counseling Program Beliefs
      • All students should be treated with respect, no matter their race, ethnicity, culture, gender, religion etc. 
      • Each and every student has worth and dignity.  The school counselor advocates for all students because they all matter.
      • Every student can learn, and every student can succeed.
      • Every student should have access to an opportunity for a high-quality education.
      • Every student should graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary opportunities.  
      • Every student should have access to a school counseling program.
      • Effective school counseling is a collaborative process involving school counselors, students, families, teachers ,administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders.
      • School counselors are leaders in the school, district, state and nation.
      • School counseling programs promote and enhance student academic, career and social/emotional outcomes.
     

Phone:

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

PURPOSE

Middle school counselor and counseling office

The purpose of the middle school counselor is two-fold:

  1. Direct and guide a planned calendar of counseling activities and programs for large and small groups as well as referred individuals.
  2. Act as liaison between referred students and other students, teachers, administrators, parents, and appropriate social agencies.

Referrals may be made verbally, electronically or by filling out a counseling referral form. A referral may originate from the student, a parent, a teacher, an administrator, or anyone else concerned about the student and/or his/her situation. Once the referral is made, the counselor schedules counseling time agreeable to all parties concerned. Relevant information will be shared with these parties as is appropriate. Teachers are urged to make counseling referrals BEFORE the problem becomes one of discipline. The counselor does not function in the role of disciplinarian.

504 Referrals are discussed with the counselor and the principal. An Evaluation will take place to collect the necessary documentation then a plan is agreed upon to implement in the classroom. 

The counseling office is available for special conferences. Before setting the conference dates, teachers and counselor discuss the purpose of the meeting.

The counselor plays a vital role in the  “Problem Solving Team” (PST) meetings. The role of the counselor on this team is to provide assistance for the teachers and suggestions to appropriate strategies that will enable the at-risk student to become successful in the classroom.  

The Oneonta Middle School Counseling Office embraces and adheres to the Alabama State Board of Education's Standards for School Counseling and Guidance. 

Phone:

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

Individual student planning includes counseling activities that provide every student with an opportunity to plan, monitor, and manage their academic, career, and personal/social development. It emphasizes time management, organizational skills, test interpretation, job shadowing and career advice as well as anger management, school anxiety, grief and stress.

GUIDELINES

            Teachers or Parents request that the student receives counseling services. The teacher can also e-mail counselor regarding a situation to handle.  If the issue was about violating school discipline guidelines or dress code then disciplinary actions are forwarded to the administration to follow procedures stated in the student handbook. Otherwise, the counselor schedules an appropriate time to pull the student out of the class to assist with his/her needs.

            During the counseling sessions, the counselor assists the students with decision-making and goal setting to improve on the area of concern. The counselor’s job is to help the student develop a healthy self-concept, and adapt to proper social behavior.

Individual counseling sessions are set up as needed.  Parents are usually contacted to be informed of the situation. The counselor will check with the teachers to follow up on the individual cases, then evaluate whether to continue individual counseling, discontinue or recommend to the parents resource services in the community.

SHARE is a service on site for severe cases of individual needs. Parents contact school counselor for information and referral process.