Student Services/Counseling
- School Counselors
- School Based Counseling
- Site Based Social Worker
- Getting Along Together
- College & Career Readiness
School Counselors
School Counselors
Western Heights Public School Counselors work diligently to maximize student success at all levels. School counselors work with students in Pre-K through 12th Grade promoting access and equity for all. Each Elementary School, Bridgestone, and the Middle School have their own school counselor and the 9th Grade Center/High School has three counselors. They are all vital members of their school site leadership teams and help to create a school culture of success for all!
Confidentiality
School counselors have an ethical responsibility to maintain confidentiality. This pertains to student data as well as information shared by the student or the parent/guardian of the student.
Limits of Confidentiality
There are limits of confidentiality for school counselors. They have to adhere to the rights of the student's legal guardian and contact them if there is possible harm that could come from the information received by the counselor. “Serious and foreseeable harm is different for each minor in the school setting and is determined by students’ developmental and chronological age, the setting, parental rights and the nature of harm” (ASCA, 2016, A.2.e).
School Based Counseling
Parents can request for their child to receive counseling services provided by a private counseling agency at school.
Click here to see the procedures outlined by our School Board Policy 2.905.
Contact our director of Special Services for more information.
Ms. Jill Hilst, Director of Special Services
405.261.3067 | Email Ms. Hilst
Below are just a few of the school based counseling services in our area...
Site Based Social Worker
Social Workers
Each school site now has a School Social Worker specializing in school services. They provide support for students' social and emotional behavioral health. They are uniquely trained to serve as a link between home, school, and community through direct and indirect services.
Elementary social workers:
Council Grove, Lily Casillas
405.350.3465 | lcasillas@whisd.org
405.350.3465 | lcasillas@whisd.org
Greenvale, April Price
405.350.3470 | aeprice@whisd.org
405.350.3470 | aeprice@whisd.org
John Glenn, Avery Stevenson
405.350.3480 | agstevenson@whisd.org
405.350.3480 | agstevenson@whisd.org
Winds West, Abbi Dreier
405.350.3475 | akdreier@whisd.org
405.350.3475 | akdreier@whisd.org
Intermediate & High School social workers:
Bridgestone, Charles Bellows
405.350.3420 | cebellows@whisd.org
405.350.3420 | cebellows@whisd.org
Middle School, Katie Edmondson
405.350.3464 | kledmondson@whisd.org
405.350.3464 | kledmondson@whisd.org
High School, Katrina Porter
405.350.3435 | klporter@whisd.org
405.350.3435 | klporter@whisd.org
Parent Resources
Get help, hope & Information 24 hours a day!
Heartline 2-1-1
Call 211 or (405)840-9396
Text your ZIP CODE to 898-211
Technology Safety, Privacy, Security
Information inspiration & resources for today's challenging economy
Workforce Community Hope Center
Assistance with JOBS search, Health Care, Legal Aid, SNAP, Housing, Unemployment.
They hold The Infant Crisis Services’ Baby Mobile from birth to 3 years old.
7201 NW 10th Street
Oklahoma City, ok 73127
405-470-6395
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
There is hope. Providing 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress works. The Lifeline helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day.
Access to the food and help you need!
www.feedingamerica.org
Call 405-972-111
Latino Community Development Agency
420 SW, 10th St.
Oklahoma City, Ok 73109
405-236-0701
The WHIRE
Backpack Program
Food for kids - Backpack Program
The Regional Food Bank delivers pre-assembled food sacks to participating schools at no cost to the school or the child. The food bags contain approximately 10 different purchased foods designed to provide nutrition and calories for chronically hungry children over the weekend.
All elementary schools in the Regional Food Bank’s 53-county service area are eligible to participate in the program. Contact your child's school for more information!
Getting Along Together
Getting Along Together is a year-long social, emotional, and cognitive learning program. It was developed in partnership with Harvard University, University of Michigan, and Success for All Foundation. Elementary teachers teach with this curriculum every day. Each week, students learn a new lesson about Getting Along Together and at the conclusion of each week, they meet with their homeroom class in a Class Council to reflect on their progress through the week and make goals for the following week.
Talk to your elementary school counselor for more information on how you can use these "Getting Along Together" strategies at home!
College & Career Readiness
ICAP
Oklahoma EDGE
Oklahoma Edge is the Oklahoma State Department of Education's commitment to ensuring all students have the opportunity and support to successfully secure a postsecondary degree or industry certification that reflects each individual’s passions and skills.
GEAR UP
GEAR UP is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It's a federally funded grant program, designed to increase the number of cohort students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary instruction.
https://www.uco.edu/student-resources/federal-education-programs/gear-up/
Educational Talent Search
The Talent Search program is a college access program that encourages youth to complete school and enroll in a program of postsecondary education at a college of their choice. The purpose of Talent Search is to identify and to assist qualified youth with the potential for education at the postsecondary level. The early intervention program is designed to serve young people in grades 6 through 12.
Upward Bound
Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program. The goal of the program is to assist high school students in achieving a college education. The Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Upward Bound program has operated since 1995. The OSU-Oklahoma City Upward Bound program offers year-round support to participating students throughout their high school years. Once students are accepted into the program they remain in the program until they graduate from high school providing they continue to fulfill the program requirements. After graduation, students can earn up to six-credit hours of summer college classes on the OSU-Oklahoma City campus.
Seal of Biliteracy
"The Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy is a credential bestowed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education to recognize and honor high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy is available to any student who is able to demonstrate biliteracy in English and another language at the Intermediate-Mid or Advanced-Low level. The recognition for attaining biliteracy becomes part of the high school transcript and recognizes the student’s readiness for career, college and engagement as a global citizen.” (OSDE)
To learn how to earn your Seal of Biliteracy, click HERE.
OKLAHOMA'S PROMISE
Oklahoma’s Promise allows students who meet certain income, academic and conduct requirements to earn a college or technology center tuition scholarship.
OKC GO Program
The OKCGo Program is available to eligible high school graduates from Western Heights Public High School. As part of a financial aid package, this program can potentially cover all tuition for the completion of one associate’s degree. Fees and books are the responsibility of the student. This unbelievable money saving opportunity is too good to pass up!
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
The Francis Tuttle district is a consolidated technology center district comprised of our seven partner school districts - Cashion, Crescent, Deer Creek, Edmond, Putnam City and Western Heights.
Project Search
https://www.francistuttle.edu/programs-and-classes/special-programs/project-search
Project HOPE
Project HOPE is a highly-successful dropout prevention and recovery program that helps high school students obtain their diplomas (as well as professional career skills), preparing them for successful employment or pursuit of further education.
Next Step Tuition Waiver
The Next Step Tuition Waiver provides qualifying students with a tuition waiver for one field of study in a long-term Career Training program after graduation. The waiver cannot be used for books, clothing, and any other materials or fees required by their program.
Elementary Counselors:
Council Grove, Jennifer Colvin
405.350.3465 | jcolvin@whisd.org
405.350.3465 | jcolvin@whisd.org
Greenvale, Becca Hamilton
405.350.3470 | rlhamilton@whisd.org
405.350.3470 | rlhamilton@whisd.org
John Glenn, Larissa Bertapelle
405.350.3480 | labertapelle@whisd.org
405.350.3480 | labertapelle@whisd.org
Winds West, Andee Burton
405.350.3475 | adburton@whisd.org
405.350.3475 | adburton@whisd.org
Intermediate Counselors:
Bridgestone Intermediate, Karla Spilman
405.350.3420 | kjspilman@whisd.org
405.350.3420 | kjspilman@whisd.org
Middle School, Danette Kirk
405.350.3455 | dlkirkwhisd.org
405.350.3455 | dlkirkwhisd.org
High School Counselors:
9th Grade (Last name A-Gom) &
Sophomores, Michelle Andrews
405.350.3435 | mandrews@whisd.org
405.350.3435 | mandrews@whisd.org
9th Grade (Last name Gon-Mi) & Juniors, Conner Andrulonis
405.350.3435 | cdandrulonis@whisd.org
405.350.3435 | cdandrulonis@whisd.org
9th Grade (Last name Mo-Z),
Seniors, Francis Tuttle, & Concurrent