National School Counseling Week is this week, February 6th -10th! Every year, on the first week of February, we take the extra time to show our school counselors how much we appreciate them and their impact on children in their schools. They help shape future generations, and for that we would like to say THANK YOU!
During this year’s National School Counseling Week, we want to spotlight Tammie Johnson!
Tammie Johnson grew up in western Massachusetts and has lived in Vermont for nearly 30 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in school and mental health counseling at the University of Vermont and has more than 25 years of experience in school and mental health counseling. She lives in Lincoln with her wife Deirdre and their cat Scout. When she’s not working, she likes to spend time in nature, sing, read, and spend time with her friends and family.
Personal Statement
I really enjoy working in Cornwall, Ripton and Salisbury elementary schools. They are all wonderful communities and I enjoy seeing the creative ways different professionals approach their work with students in each of the schools. It’s certainly a juggling act for me to stay connected to and supportive of students, teachers, and school professionals when I am splitting my time between three schools each week. One of the most important things I try to keep in mind in this juggling act is that connections with trusted others are a significant buffer for stress. So, I try to be truly present and listen to others when I am with them in order to let them know that I really value what they have to say. I teach in every classroom within a two-week period so that I can interact with all the students and teachers consistently. In those classes I teach social, communication, and problem-solving skills. I also teach about empathy, skills for learning, and emotion management, including coping skills.
Thank you, Tammie!
Thank you, school counselors everywhere!