Cece Easley, Reporter
@virginiaeas
Amidst the changes brought to the high school with Covid-19 transitions from remote to hybrid to in-person over the past two years, the district has implemented new tactics and hired new mental health support staff to best support the well-being of students.
Gregg Sloane, the new Teen Talk counselor hired this year, represents the larger organization “Kids in Crisis,” although his office is based at the high school. “Teen Talk is a confidential counseling program, it is part of a larger organization called ‘Kids in Crisis’ which has been in Fairfield county for 40 years,” he said. “They provide a 24-hour crisis hotline and shelter for kids in need. Every high school in Fairfield County has a Teen Talk counselor.”
As a new member of the high school community, he said, “I really just want to be a support to anyone who feels in need and figure out how I can help.“
Mr. Sloane has experience working at New York public schools. “I think the most common situations I’m used to dealing with students are stressors, whether they be academic, family related to the house, or peer conflicts. Everyone is going through something, but those are the big three.” Mr. Sloane said.
In addition to academics, the high school has a variety of clubs, activities, and sports. “Right now for seniors, the college application process is incredibly stressful, and there’s a lot of pressure and demands,” he said. “Time constraints, trying to fit in everything that you have to do, go to school, do outside clubs, apply to college for seniors, play a sport has caused some students to experience difficulties prioritizing and scheduling themselves.”
In addition to the usual stressors,“It’s an incredibly stressful time for things we don’t even know about- like how students are going to respond post-pandemic,” Mr. Sloane said.
Jenna Wilson was the Outreach Social Worker for the NCPS community, and her office was based at NCHS. “Having people you can go to at school is super important,” she said. “Especially with everything that’s been going on with Covid-19, I think that has added a lot of extra anxiety to everybody’s plate.”
The Social Outreach position’s responsibilities are district-wide and involve working with kids at school and at home alike. “I do a lot of community outreach and working with organizations in the community, and helping to connect families to resources,” she said.
The changes that Covid-19 has brought require kids to adapt to schedule and location variations. “It’s hard to transition back for a variety of reasons, so I do a lot of helping kids get back into school so that they can be successful when they are here,” The Social Outreach worker said.
Susan Bliss, the District Student Supports Coordinator, is responsible for organizing means of student support within the NCPS community. “It’s important to help kids recognize and regulate emotions by themselves, through preventative measures,” said Dr. Bliss.
According to Dr. Bliss, the addition of mental health support is important for helping to manage extremely stressful times.
