Columnist Sandy Thompson: Counselor helps kids navigate positive path

Sandy Thompson

Friday, Nov. 23, 2001 | 12:52 p.m.

Sandy Thompson is vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4025 or e-mail at thompson@lasvegassun.com

PAIGE JOHNSON has a poster in her counseling office at Roy Martin Middle School that defines courage:

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Paige Johnson does both.

Although she would not consider what she does "courageous," Johnson fulfills a vital role as outlook counselor at the school. She's one of two federally funded counselors in the district who work under a special grant in at-risk schools. More than 90 percent of Roy Martin's students are minorities. The area served by the school has a variety of social and economic problems. Many parents are without jobs, phones or cars. There are domestic violence, homeless and transiency issues. Almost all Roy Martin students receive a free breakfast and hot lunch each day.

To improve its "unsatisfactory" educational rating, the school is addressing many of these issues that affect their students' performance and ability to learn. About 300 students are involved in after-school activities that provide a positive alternative to negative activities in the surrounding neighborhoods. There is tutoring in English/reading and math, computer design classes, a science club and more.

Johnson is doing her part by providing "100 percent personal, social and well-being counseling." On a typical day, she works with more than 15 students and she checks on the well-being of a few others.

She talks about problems the students face, not to say "poor Roy Martin," but rather to point out the positive things that are happening. She's optimistic because she has faith in the students. Many of their parents, she says, value education.

"These kids are so great. They have great potential. Their dreams aren't any different (from other children's). Just their circumstances are different," Johnson says.

Her goal is to provide an avenue that's easy for the children to navigate with some assistance. She's the navigator. The destination is academic and personal success.

When working with a child, Johnson first must assess where he's at. Does he need food, clothing or medical attention? Do his parents need assistance? If so, she connects them with corresponding community resources.

Johnson says she also tries to provide another basic need -- a human relationship. Children need someone to simply care about and pay attention to them.

Sometimes the situations are beyond the control of a teacher or counselor. Johnson recently learned that a 12-year-old student slept four nights on top of a dryer in an apartment complex because he had run away from home. Not having his English homework became a secondary problem.

Roy Martin offers classes for parents that help them better understand the school system and how it works. Johnson says parental response has been positive. She wants to take it a step further and instill in parents and children early on the value of a post-secondary education. The key is focusing on individuals.

"Programs aren't what changes people; people change people," Johnson says. "You could have the most lovely curriculum in the world, but it's no good if you don't have a personal relationship to base it on."

The next time some bean counter suggests cutting counselors to save a few bucks in the Clark County School District budget, he should take a look at what Johnson is accomplishing. Money is tight, and the funding sources are shrinking. But elementary and middle school counselors provide a vital function directly to students, and should not be considered a luxury item. Johnson, who has been a teacher and counselor for 14 years, doesn't know whether the grant that funds her position will be renewed. She's not allowing that to dampen her enthusiasm or dim her positive view of her students' potential.

Each day, she goes about her job. Each day, her students benefit because she is doing her job.