Polk County Public Schools
The mission statement of the Polk County School Board Student Services Department is to support youth, families, and school board employees by enhancing mental and physical health resulting in optimal student achievement and personal success for all.
| Name: | Title: | Phone: |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Troupe | Director of Student Services | 534-0928 |
| Jim Maxwell | Senior Manager Responsibilities: Psychological Services, Crisis Intervention Team |
534-0958 |
| Donna McDonald | Senior Manager of Social Work Services Responsibilities: Attendance, Juvenile Court Liaison, Home Education |
534-0024 |
| Audrey Kelley | Senior Manager Responsibilities: Prevention, Health, and Wellness |
291-5355 |
| Cathy Boek | Manager Responsibilities: Safe and Drug Free Schools |
291-5355 |
| Debbie Zimmerman | Manager Responsibilities: Wellness Program |
648-3057 |
| Kay Noble | Resource Counselor Specialist Responsibilities: Middle and High School Guidance Counselors |
534-0027 |
| Madonna Wise | Resource Counselor Specialist Responsibilities: Elementary Guidance Counselors |
519-8197 |
| Tonya Moseley | Secretary II Responsibilities: Home Education |
534-0960 |
| Latonnja Key | Coordinator Child Care Services, Teen Parent Program | 534-0930 |
| Home Ed. Fax | 534-0028 |
Visit our Staff Directory to contact any staff member via e-mail.
Research studies emphasize the importance of student services relative to student achievement. For example:
The Student Services Department has adapted the coordinated school health model from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide programs and services to Polk County’s 92,000 K-12 students and their families. This model impacts students’ overall well being and ability to learn.
Components of the model include: Counseling, psychological, and social services; health services; healthy school climate (i.e., safe & drug free schools, violence prevention, school attendance); comprehensive school health education; nutrition education; health promotion for staff and students; and parent/family and community partnerships in school health.
Based on careful analysis of student needs, evidenced-based programs and services are implemented, monitored, and evaluated in an effort to increase student achievement. Many of the programs and services offered are federal, state, and/or locally mandated.
Our Student Services Department provides effective, centralized leadership which results in consistent interpretation of policies and procedures, thereby limiting liability, assuring equity of services, and utilizing resources and personnel efficiently.
Below is a brief description of the many programs and services provided by the Polk County Student Services Department.
Student attendance is continually monitored to ensure statutory compliance for compulsory attendance. Ongoing communication/collaboration is required with community agencies, School-based Attendance Child Study Team members, law enforcement officers, and court personnel. Twenty school social workers and six school social workers on special assignment aid school personnel, parents, and community agency staff in the provision of school social work services.
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The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a multidisciplinary Student Services Team which consists of guidance counselors, school psychologists, prevention educators, and social workers. The team is organized by areas with four teams (5 to 6 members), each with a team leader. The Crisis Team has goals of prevention, intervention, and postvention. The team uses a crisis model adapted from the National Organization of Victim Assistance.
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The Student Services Department is responsible for providing Guidance Services assistance and support for school based Guidance Counselors and College/Career Specialists.
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The Health and Character Education area coordinates the Comprehensive Health Curriculum K-12 in all Polk County schools and documents compliance with state and district mandates.
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Registered Nurses provide services and information in the following areas: entrance and immunization requirements, communicable diseases, Bloodborne Pathogens, head lice, health clinic aides/health contacts in schools, school nurse information, CPR and First Aid training for School Board Employees, medication administration, emergency calls (911), and other state mandated school health programs and requirements.
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The Sr. Manager of Social Work Services serves as the district contact for all aspects of the Home Education Program, including inquiries and requests for part-time enrollment, dual enrollment, virtual school, FCAT information, and exceptional student education. Other responsibilities include maintaining records and monitoring student progress for over 2,200 students. The district’s home education packet is updated and distributed in both paper and electronic formats.
The Senior Manager of Social Work Services serves as the district contact for all Juvenile Justice related issues. Criminal prosecution notices of students who have committed felonies are distributed to personnel on a "need to know" basis. Orders of Restitution are filed, tracked, and forwarded to the Polk County School Board Legal Office for collection.
The Psychological Services Department consists of 45 school psychologists, 4 school psychologist interns, and clerical support staff. School psychologists provide a wide range of comprehensive services.
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Safe and Drug Free Schools provides services including:
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The Social Work Services Department consists of twenty school social workers and six school social workers on special assignment who provide services in the areas of student attendance/truancy, data collection for special education referrals and placement (social histories, adaptive behavior, etc.), address verification, and social work related services including home/school liaison, counseling, crisis intervention, parent training, teacher consultation, and developing interventions for students at risk for school failure.
The Wellness Program was designed to promote healthy lifestyles through educational programs that identify health risks and encourage lifelong wellness of mind and body. The program seeks to improve employee health and well being while reducing risk factors associated with the leading causes of death and disability. From reduced-rate fitness memberships, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and comprehensive screening programs, the Wellness Program has the employees' health in mind.
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Student Services Department personnel serve as the district contacts and work closely with DCF to ensure interagency collaboration for students who are known to the DCF. An interagency agreement is in place and updated annually to facilitate this exchange of student information.
Student Services Department personnel receive notices from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding missing children. In accordance with Florida Statutes, local law enforcement personnel are notified immediately when identified missing children are in attendance at any Polk County school.
Student Services personnel, in conjunction with the Department of Education, have developed the Student Services Clinical Educator Training component to provide oversight and supervision for all new developing student service personnel entering the Polk County School district. Interns, practicum students, and PEC program participants are supervised, monitored, evaluated to ensure quality services for students and their families and to limit the district’s liability.
General Student Records – Student Services personnel are responsible for updating the student records section of the Student Progression Plan and serve as a resource to school personnel regarding student record issues.
Federal Child Labor Laws and Florida Statutes require that all students under the age of 18 who are employed must have a work waiver issued consistent with legal requirements. During the 2005-2006 school year, Student Services personnel issued approximately 336 work waivers to Polk County students employed on a part time basis.
Work Waiver requests for Polk County public school students are accepted via e-mail through school guidance counselors. If you need a work waiver contact your school guidance counselor.