Student Support Services
The ISD is committed to supporting the whole child: academically, socially, and emotionally. Our School Counselors, Family School Liaisons, and School Psychologists collaborate closely with teachers, administrators, and families to create a safe and supportive learning environment. This multi-layered support approaches comes together in an effort to make sure no student falls through the cracks.
Every student in the ISD has access to these support staff members through their school. Below is a general overview of each role’s primary responsibilities, though their work often overlaps, and they frequently collaborate to make sure students are fully supported.
School Counselors
Focus: Prevention, skill-building, and development
| What they do: |
| Teach classroom lessons on social-emotional skills, study habits, and future planning |
| Support students with academic concerns, conflict resolution, and goal-setting |
| Help students create and update Personal Plans of Study (Middle & High school) |
| Provide short-term counseling and connect families with community resources |
| When to reach out: |
| Concerns about grades, motivation, or school engagement |
| Peer conflicts, bullying, or friendship issues |
| Questions about course selection, graduation requirements, or college/career planning |
Reach out by clicking the button below to find your School Counselor.
Family School Liaisons
Focus: Barriers to learning, family support, and connecting home-to-school
Family School Liaisons (FSLs) are part of the district Family Services Department.
| What they do: |
| Help families access community resources (food, clothing, housing, mental health care) |
| Conduct home visits and case management for students with attendance concerns |
| Support students facing crises such as grief, family changes, or homelessness |
| Participate in problem-solving teams to reduce barriers to learning |
| When to reach out: |
| Your family needs help accessing resources |
| Attendance concerns or chronic absenteeism |
| Social-emotional or behavioral concerns impacting learning |
School Psychologists
Focus: Assessment, intervention, and mental health expertise
| What they do: |
| Conduct observations for special education eligibility |
| Help design individualized interventions for students with learning or behavioral needs |
| Consult with teachers and parents to improve academic and behavioral outcomes |
| Provide crisis intervention and mental health consultation |
| When to reach out: |
| Questions about special education assessments or services |
| Concerns about a student’s learning or behavior |
| Need for support with complex behavioral or mental health concerns |
Reach out by contacting your student's teacher or Principal.
Below you’ll find a collection of resources to help support your child and family — from mental health services to basic needs assistance and parent tools. We’ve organized these links by category so you can quickly find what you need.
- Mental Health
- Basic Needs Assistance
- Safety & Crisis Support
- Family Resources
- Mental Health Crisis Hotlines
- Grief Resources
- Medical Resources
- AntiBullying Resources
- Informational PDFs
Mental Health
Basic Needs Assistance
Safety & Crisis Support
Family Resources
Mental Health Crisis Hotlines
Grief Resources
Medical Resources
AntiBullying Resources
Informational PDFs
Parent Guidance
ParentGuidance.org is on online platform offering free educational and therapeutic support for parents/guardians to help with their child's mental health.
Features include:
-On-demand courses on topics like recognizing suicidal thoughts, emotional regulation, parent-child connection, technology & mental health, etc.
-An Ask a Therapist section: parents can submit questions and get responses from mental health professionals.
Burrell Behavioral Health
The ISD partners with Burrell Behavioral Health to make mental health support available to students in every school. Through this partnership, licensed Burrell therapists provide on-site counseling and mental health services during the school day, making it easier for students to access care without leaving school.
Families can work with their School counselor or Family School Liaison to request services or learn more about how Burrell can support their child’s social and emotional well-being.
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program
The ISD offers depression awareness and suicide prevention training through the nationally recognized Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program for all middle and high school students.
What is SOS?
SOS is a school-based curriculum and screening program designed to:
-Help students understand that depression is a treatable illness
-Explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy often linked to untreated depression
-Teach students how to identify depression or suicide risk in themselves or a friend
-Empower students to take action by talking with a trusted adult
-Show students exactly who they can turn to at school for help
A key part of SOS is teaching students the ACT response plan:
Acknowledge the signs of depression,
Care for yourself or your friend, and
Tell a trusted adult right away.
Our School Counselors have been trained in SOS and lead lessons at our middle and high schools. Parents/guardians are notified before the lesson with an opportunity to opt their student out of the lesson, and we also have extra support staff at the buildings when those lessons are conducted.
SOS Resources:
Parent/Guardian information
Informational PDFs & Trainings
SOS Parent Screening Form
