Counseling Connection

Welcome back Cougars! The Clark High School Counseling Department is excited for the 2024-2025 school year! We have many exciting things planned including guidance lessons, grade level conferences, and campus-wide counseling activities. We are ready to start working with our Cougars to make this a happy, safe, and productive year!

School counselors are readily available to answer any questions or concerns. Your child is assigned to a counselor based on the student’s last name.

Marjan Switzer : Head Counselor 210-397-5236 marjan.switzer@nisd.net

Deborah Jempty: Last name A-Ce: 210-397-5205 deborah.jempty@nisd.net

Wendy Gomez: Last name Cf-F: 210-397-5178 wendy.gomez@nisd.net

Victoria Elizondo: Last name G-Ja: 210-397-5181 victoria.elizondo@nisd.net

Evie Edwards: Last name Jb-Me: 210-397-5233 evie.edwards@nisd.net

Deborah Guidry: Last name Mg-Q: 210-397-5180 deborah.guidry@nisd.net

Stephanie Kosub: Last name R-S: 210-397-5177 stephanie.kosub@nisd.net

Ashley Wellington: Last name T-Z: 210-397-5179 ashley.wellington@nisd.net

As your Clark Counselors, we want to emphasize that your academic success and mental health is of utmost importance to us. We understand that navigating the challenges of school, life, and personal growth can be overwhelming at times. Everyone needs help every now and then! We understand that everyone faces unique challenges, and no concern is too small or too big to discuss. Let's work together to make your school experience as positive and successful as possible.

The following are tips for recognizing when you need help and who/how to ask for it!

Your Clark Counselors are here to help you start the school year strong. It is important to learn how to ask for help in school because it strengthens life skills. Keep checking back for additional tips to help motivate you and stay on track!

1. Develop Self-Awareness - Foster a growth mindset that will help you build self-monitoring and self-reflection skills.

2. Develop Self-Advocacy Skills - When you ask questions, you get to hop in the driver’s seat of your education and steer your learning.

3. Empower for success - Asking for help more often, allows to make connections and be better able to deal with challenging situations.

We have several events happening here at Clark for the months of September and October.

Senior Conferences / September

Junior & Senior Parent Night / Sept. 11th

Open House / Sept. 16th

ASVAB Testing / Must Sign Up

Freshman Planning Conferences / October

Decision of Respect & Stomp Out Bullying / Oct. 4th

School Day PSAT / Oct. 9th

Red Ribbon Week / Week of Oct. 28th

Bullying Prevention Week / October

This year, counselors will visit with each grade level and deliver guidance lessons that promote the Four Content Areas of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Effectiveness, Post-Secondary Planning and Career Readiness, and Personal Health and Safety.

August

Counselors will meet with the Freshmen to deliver our Howdy Lesson which helps students understand attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning and develop their own academic potential.

September

Seniors will receive information about essential college information including Scholarships, FAFSA, SAT/ACT Prep, and important dates for upcoming events.

October

We will meet with our Freshman to help them understand and map out their 4 Year Academic Plan and reach the goal of meeting graduation requirements.

We will meet with our Sophomores to deliver our Anti-Bullying Guidance Lesson.

We will kick off our first Wellness Wednesday during the month of October in partnership with our fabulous librarian Mrs. Podmore! Additional dates to come!

Congratulations to our Cougar teachers! They were chosen as the Extra Mile Teacher of the following designated months. They had glowing nominations from their students! Thank you to Chef Jason Dady! His organization donates $50 gift certificates for our recipients!

The counseling department will have a Schoology account where students and parents can access dates for upcoming events, academic/social/emotional resources, and how to reach their counselor!

If you need to register your child, please first complete the district online registration on the district website. After that portion is completed, our counseling secretary or registrar will contact you about required documents and set up a registration appointment.

We are happy to provide students and guardians with a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) via email. Please submit your request to Counseling Secretary Mrs. Robin Elizondo, robin.elizondo@nisd.net. Please include your name, student's name, and student ID if possible.

Students must order a transcript on the NISD Transcripts Webpage, and once it is processed it will be sent to the institution indicated on the online transcript request.

For additional information please review the NISD Guidance & Counseling site.