Tower School Counselor's Office

5200 Hooper Drive, Wichita Falls, Texas 76306 (940) 855-3221
Mrs. Melissa Hardman


Character Education Coordinator: 
The Peer Assistance Leadership Program (PAL) is a national high school program that entails selected high school students that have had extensive training in community and leadership skills through an elective class they are currently taking. These high school students spend 30 minutes twice a month with each Tower homeroom. During the homeroom visits our PALS teach lessons in character development.  The Burkburnett ISD adopted the "CHARACTER COUNTS!" program to help reinforce character and values in our youth.  The PALS are also positive role models for our students and help build self-esteem, social skills, and motivation.
 
Gifted & Talented or Advanced Learner Program & Services Program Facilitator: 
The counselor along with the Gifted & Talented teacher announce GT nomination and screening dates to teachers and parents. These two people also administer the screening instruments / tests involved in applying for GT. THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS MAY DESCRIBE A GIFTED CHILD.

* Can read significantly above grade level
* Uses vocabulary above age level
* Asks the most unusual questions, very curious
* Is most creative and original
* Is best critical thinker-reasons, recognizes relationships of things, event situations
* Excels significantly in one subject
* Has unusual interests, collections, projects or hobbies
*Communicates well with others
* Is best artist-drawings may be elaborate and original for age level
* Would be best in dramatic or humorous production
* Able child who is a nuisance
* Is very cable, but not using potential
* Self directed learner - may be disinterested in simplified presentation of skills
 
Counseling Services: 
Counselors address the immediate concerns of students through individual or small group counseling, consultation and coordination with others (school personnel and parents), and referral to others for the purpose of prevention and intervention in areas such as:

* academic concerns
* school - related / at-risk concerns
* relationship concerns
* physical / sexual / emotional abuse
* grief / divorce / dying / loss
* substance abuse
* family issues
* coping with stress
* suicide / depression
* behavior adjustment
* self - esteem
* anger / conflict management 
 
Test Coordinator / Test Dates: 

The counselor and principal help in the ordering and delivery of tests to teachers and students. They go over testing administration guidelines with teachers prior to testing and interpret test results for teachers and parents after testing. They use test results to implement smarter teaching strategies for the betterment of educational success.

* 2007-08 Testing Schedule

* Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills testing


* The Standford Achievement Test is taken by kindergarten through second grade students in April. This test can compare our students with others at a national level.

* Gifted & Talented tests are administered at different times throughout the year.   Click here for our district time line of nominations and screening dates.

* Students in grades first through second grade also take the Texas Primary Reading Inventory, TPRI. This measures growth in reading and phonics and is administered at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. Kindergartners take this only at the middle and end of the school year.