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For Immediate Release

 July 5, 2012

Contact: Dan Voelpel, director, Public Information, 253-571-1015, dvoelpe@tacoma.k12.wa.us

District consolidates counselors to better serve students

Oversight of all 61 Tacoma school counselors will consolidate July 9 under the leadership of Director John Page, Career and Technical Education and Guidance Department.
 
Previously, Page oversaw 38 middle school and high school counselors, while oversight of 23 pre-school and elementary school counselors fell under the School, Family and Community Partnership Office.
 
"By consolidating all our counselors and counseling services under John, we can better align and strengthen how we support – in a comprehensive and consistent way – our students' academic, career and social-emotional development," said Superintendent Carla Santorno.

The reorganization continues Santorno's effort to transform the district's central office in ways that provide more effective, streamlined support for the schools to improve teaching and learning.

Under Page's leadership, priorities for the 2012-13 school year will revolve around the school board's Strategic Plan and include:
  • Enhanced customer service communications with parents and students,
  • Preparation of a high-quality schedule of classes for each student, and
  • Responsive interventions that help each student earn a diploma.
"Post-secondary school site visits, management of crisis situations and planning of grade-level transitional activities will continue as ongoing work within the department," Page said.

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