NORTH LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — School counselors are giving more than just college advice these days, and its no longer just high school students given guidance.
“I love working with kids. They’re so responsive. They love to spend time with us,” said school counselor Leighanne Mainguy.
The counselors at Priest Elementary School in North Las Vegas have worked together for the past two years. They both enjoy working with young students.
“At a younger age, they need the tools, and they need the skills to cope with situations, and to be able to help with future academics in middle school and high school,” Judy Pelto, a counselor, said.
They say it’s not just about pure academics.
“I think it’s important that everybody recognizes that we look at the whole child and not just the academic portions of the child. We intend to keep them successful in school, yes, but how can we help them be well-rounded,” Mainguy said.
They are one of more than 600 counselors in Clark County being recognized for their work as part of National School Counseling Week.
For fifth-grader Jayda Caligone, it’s a resource she uses.
“It feels terrific because you get to share your problems with them and anything goes wrong, they can help you out,” she said.
A National Association for College Admission Counseling report shows one-on-one meetings with counselors triples a student’s chances of attending college. Caligone says she believes her counselors have already made an impact.
“I appreciate everything they’ve done for me because that gives the school a chance to be a little bit better than the last time,” she said.
