Students are still lagging behind in certain areas, three years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Fairfax County, Virginia, school counselor Shari Winston.
She’s worked with kids for a long time, recently switching from high school counselor to working with elementary school kids.
鈥淜ids in general, whether it鈥檚 high school or here, are just socio-emotionally a year-plus behind where we are used to,鈥� Winston said. 鈥淪tudents acting out if they don鈥檛 get their way, they don鈥檛 know how to express themselves.鈥�
She said all the work school counselors and mental health professionals had done before the pandemic, or in years leading up, is having to be recreated or retaught to kids. Winston said even with the regression, there are hopeful signs of kids trying to help each other.
鈥淭elling their friend, ‘hey, I think you need to go talk to someone, why don鈥檛 we go talk to Miss Winston?'”
She said she knows she鈥檚 making a difference when kids do that, or jockey to sit with her at lunch.
“That’s something that’s really fulfilling, like, I may have helped one student and then it’s sort of like a telephone game or maybe that other student is having a concern or an issue that they have a trusted adult that they can come and talk to,鈥� said Winston.
This is National School Counseling Week, and Winston was celebrated at her school, Shrevewood Elementary, with a special lunch. She also got a sweet note from a first grader.
“It’s really nice to be recognized. And I am humbled whenever I am,” she said.
