Mental Wellness
We believe all students deserve to learn in a safe, secure emotional environment.
At Avon Schools, we want all of our students to succeed not only academically but socially and emotionally as well. So, our Mental Wellness staff partners with families/caregivers, educators, support staff members, and community providers to ensure our students are surrounded with what they need to thrive.
Feel free to browse through this page to learn how we support our students' wellness. If you have questions, need support, or want more information, please contact us.
Project AWARE changes the frequency
Project AWARE stands for Advancing Wellness And Resiliency Education. Thanks to this incredible grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), ACSC is able to serve students through the Avon Mental Wellness Team. The Avon Mental Wellness Team is staffed with social workers who provide small group and/or one-on-one meetings with students to develop skills around mental wellness education and skill development.
The Mental Wellness Team focuses on three areas:
- Empowering students to recognize and build their mental wellness through small group, individual, and/or skill-based lessons
- Strengthening the school-family partnership through education, outreach, and connection with community resources
- Building relationships and supporting school staff mental wellness through outreach, education, and conversation
If you think your child could benefit from additional mental wellness support, please reach out to your school counselor for more information, To learn more about Project AWARE, you can visit the Indiana Department of Education or SAMHSA's Project AWARE information page.
School Counselors & Social Workers
AHS
Webpage, (317) 544-5000
Counselors
Angie Creed, Director, ext. 5051
Tonya Bess, ext. 5055
Kenneth Cook, ext. 5060
Elliott Doan, ext. 5053
Nathan Ellis, ext. 5056
Judy Garcia, ext. 5058
DuShaun Goings, ext. 5052
Emma Myers, ext. 5061
Randi Perry, ext. 5057
Tiffany Raidy, ext. 5059
David Thompson, ext. 5054
Social Workers
Brittany Cheviron, ext. 5331
Tahirah Purifoy, ext. 5322
AMS North
Webpage, (317) 544-5500
Counselors
Andrea Davasher, ext. 5517
Allison West, ext. 5516
Social Worker
Jennie Gooding, (317) 544-5890
AMS South
Webpage, (317) 544-5700
Counselors
Kasey Baughn, ext. 5717
Paul Quirke, ext. 5715
Social Worker
Colleen Ray, (317) 544-5915
AIS East
Webpage, (317) 544-5800
Counselors
Jennifer Pfledderer, ext. 5819
Troy Warthan, ext. 5828
Social Worker
Jennie Gooding, ext. 5890
AIS West
Webpage, (317) 544-5900
Counselors
Megan Emrich, ext. 5929
Jake Hally, ext. 5928
Social Worker
Colleen Ray, ext. 5915
Cedar
Webpage, (317) 544-6200
Counselor
Allison Osterburg, ext. 6233
Social Worker
Jaime Howell, (317) 544-6234
Hickory
Webpage, (317) 544-6300
Social Worker
Jessica Perkins, (317) 544-6429
Maple
Webpage, (317) 544-6400
Counselor
Laura Samide, ext. 6420
Social Worker
Amber Wetzel, (317) 544-5429
Pine Tree
Webpage, (317) 544-6500
Counselor
Lina Khalaf, ext. 6520
Social Worker
Amber Wetzel, (317) 544-5429
River Birch
Webpage, (317) 544-6800
Counselor
Kyle Kopke, ext. 6820
Social Worker
Jessica Perkins, (317) 544-6429
Sycamore
Webpage
(317) 544-6600
Counselor
Sarah Altman, ext. 6620
Social Worker
Jaime Howell, (317) 544-6234
Virtual Calming Space
Many of our schools and even our classrooms have created mindfulness or calming areas for students and/or staff. Please feel free to visit this calming space any time you need to take a break. There are a variety of resources, including sounds, images, writing activities, visual relaxation, guided focus activities, and movement breaks. We will be adding new resources regularly, so check back often!
This is a place where you can virtually go to help calm and regulate yourself. We want to help you to be able to recognize, identify, and safety respond to your feelings.
How does social-emotional learning help students?
We support students as they build five core competencies: self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. School counselors support these efforts by collaborating with teachers to deliver these lessons to students during the school week.
ACSC firmly believes in educating the whole child. In order for a child to be available for learning experiences, they must first feel safe, regulated, and ready to interact socially with others. Taking time to intentionally teach these social-emotional skills to our students will help prepare them for the best possible learning environment.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about social-emotional learning at ACSC, please reach out to your school counselor.
Our Mission
We work to increase awareness, accessibility, and support to improve mental wellness as a school community. We do this through empowering students, strengthening the school-family partnership, and building supportive relationships to improve staff mental wellness.
Contact Us
Krista Fay
Mental Wellness Coordinator
Parent/Caregiver Resources
Avon Mental Wellness Updates
![national school counseling week]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1675356549/avonschoolsorg/tkkp3slhokybkli0nkhp/NatlSchoolCounselingWeek1600x900px.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1675356549/avonschoolsorg/tkkp3slhokybkli0nkhp/NatlSchoolCounselingWeek1600x900px.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1675356549/avonschoolsorg/tkkp3slhokybkli0nkhp/NatlSchoolCounselingWeek1600x900px.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1675356549/avonschoolsorg/tkkp3slhokybkli0nkhp/NatlSchoolCounselingWeek1600x900px.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1675356549/avonschoolsorg/tkkp3slhokybkli0nkhp/NatlSchoolCounselingWeek1600x900px.png","width":1600}])
February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week. If you appreciate the work of a member — or members! — of the team, tell them so!
![girl sitting alone]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1673986703/avonschoolsorg/r9rhvd94qjzbrw3rgxmo/SubstanceUseWorkshop1600x900px.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1673986703/avonschoolsorg/r9rhvd94qjzbrw3rgxmo/SubstanceUseWorkshop1600x900px.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1673986703/avonschoolsorg/r9rhvd94qjzbrw3rgxmo/SubstanceUseWorkshop1600x900px.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1673986703/avonschoolsorg/r9rhvd94qjzbrw3rgxmo/SubstanceUseWorkshop1600x900px.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1673986703/avonschoolsorg/r9rhvd94qjzbrw3rgxmo/SubstanceUseWorkshop1600x900px.png","width":1600}])
Willow Center Community Director Chase Cotton will lead this interactive and informative community session on February 22. It is designed to equip parents and caregivers to talk to their children about substance use and mental health. Join us.
![student vaping]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1666026001/avonschoolsorg/sdaktqhk0rfvwcc4urab/YouthVapingSummit1600x900px.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1666026001/avonschoolsorg/sdaktqhk0rfvwcc4urab/YouthVapingSummit1600x900px.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1666026001/avonschoolsorg/sdaktqhk0rfvwcc4urab/YouthVapingSummit1600x900px.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1666026001/avonschoolsorg/sdaktqhk0rfvwcc4urab/YouthVapingSummit1600x900px.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1666026001/avonschoolsorg/sdaktqhk0rfvwcc4urab/YouthVapingSummit1600x900px.png","width":1600}])
How much do you know about vaping? What can you do to help someone break the habit or prevent it in the first place? If you need more information, tools, and resources, make plans to attend.