Student Services
Jillian Thomas (Lower School Counselor)
I am so excited to be joining the ESA staff and getting to know the ESA families.
I graduated in May 2022 from NC State University with my masters of Education in School Counseling. This is my dream job and I am so excited to be starting at such a great school.
When I am not at school I enjoy hiking, kayaking and staying up to date on my favorite TV shows.
Amanda Barnhill (Middle School Counselor)
I am so excited to be a part of ESA this year! I can't wait to get to know the students and families of the ESA community.
I completed my Master's of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University. My bachelor's degree is in social studies education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to working here, I worked at Falls Lake Academy as a 7th grade social studies teacher.
When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my huskies, Shadow & Storm, my cat, Cleo, and my friends and family. I also enjoy baking and traveling.
Services for Students
Individual Counseling:
Counseling on an individual level will be short-term and focused on finding solutions to the social-emotional and/or academic concerns that a student, parent, or teacher identifies. Students will work with the counselor on an individual basis to set goals, identify potential solutions, and put those solutions into practice. Please note that we cannot provide therapy or long-term services.
Group Counseling:
Group Counseling is a collaborative process, where students with similar concerns or focus areas work together towards a common goal. A typical group consists of 4 to 6 students and meets once or twice a week for a total of 6 to 8 sessions.
Classroom Lessons:
School Counselor lessons are taught in each K-4 classroom biweekly and each 5th-8th classroom monthly. The lessons teach students skills, behaviors, and attitudes that will make them successful at Envision and beyond, including but not limited to coping skills, healthy friendships, study and academic skills, character education, bullying prevention, and conflict resolution.
Positive Behavior Intervention & Support (PBIS):
Envision Science Academy uses PBIS practices to support our students. All students are taught the SOAR expectations:
Show self-control
Own your learning
Act responsibly
Respect myself, others, and the environment
For Students
- All students in need of a counselor will fill out a paper form and place it in the mailbox in the counseling office.
- Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SSARS)
- Bullying Report Form
- High School Information
- Student Resource Page
- Links are sorted by topic
988 is now live
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis, or
- Any other kind of emotional distress
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
For Parents
- Request Counseling Services by filling out the form at the bottom of the page
- Parent consultations and meetings can be requested via email
- Parent Resource Page
- High School Information
- High School Plans Form
School-Wide Events & Updates
ESA is proud to partner with The Positivity Project for the 2023-24 school year! This program will teach students about social-emotional skills and behaviors. Positivity Project will be taught by homeroom teachers during Morning Meeting