Counselor

Heather Elmore 
Counselor
Email
 

 

Hi! I’m Heather Elmore and so excited to be your school counselor at Westwood Elementary. I am full time on campus to help meet student’s social and emotional needs. I see students individually and in small groups when the need arises on such things as anger, grief, building friendships, self-confidence, anxiety, and family changes (a new sibling, divorce, separation, or even a move). A school counselor doesn’t do therapy, but is someone who listens to any concerns students have and works with him/her with their teachers and families to support and devise a plan for success.  I am happy to refer to outside therapy.  FISD is partnered with UTMB for a program called TCHATT.  It offers free counseling sessions (up to five) with a licensed therapist.  Please contact me if you are interested or have any questions.

I am a mother of four girls (daughter at Texas A& M and triplet teenagers at FHS).  I have been where you are and am happy to help and have empathy navigating parenting. 

 At Westwood, I love to get to know all the students. I have lunch with each student in small groups within their homeroom each week. It’s a fun time for the students and myself to connect and get to know each other better.  

FISD uses a character education curriculum called Kindness in the Classroom.  Lessons are taught by homeroom teachers every six weeks in the topics of RESPECT, CARING, INCLUSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, COURAGE & RESPONSIBILITY.   

Each month your child’s teacher will bring her entire class to my office where I will teach a character lesson and piggyback on what is being taught in the classroom.  Please help us at home by talking about the importance of good character. 

Kelso's Choices is something Westwood teaches to help empower students to solve their own conflict and Bucket Filling to promote kindness to others. 
Display and use the Kelso Choice's wheel at home with siblings (I still use it with my teens:)

At Westwood, students are working on labeling their feelings, and regulating those feelings when needed through the Zones of Regulation.  I let them know that all feelings are okay, but it's what we do with those feelings.  We practice coping skills to help students calm down when angry, scared/worried or sad.  These are great to practice at home, use at doctor or dentist appointments if your child is nervous or any other place where feeling get dysregulated. 

I look forward to getting to know your family!