The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Elementary School welcomed new school counselor Wendy Von Segren this week, as classes started. Von Segren comes off of 17 years teaching experience at the elementary-school level in the Redmond School District.

This year marks the first in some number of years that all three schools have each had a certified counselor.

Von Segren holds a master's degree in counseling from Lewis & Clark College. Her husband is a school counselor in Terrebonne, where both of her children attend school.

"I have always wanted to be a school counselor," she told The Nugget. "Throughout my years as an elementary school teacher, character-based and social/emotional education has always been a big part of my teaching style. This was a natural transition."

This year, Von Segren is looking forward to a proactive approach to meet the needs of all students at Sisters Elementary School. Three days a week she will be teaching guidance lessons through social/emotional curriculum, where every class will have a 40-minute session with her once a week. In addition, she will conduct small group and individual counseling sessions.

"I am here to support students, families and staff," Von Segren said. "I want to be an integral part of the school - to help make changes and address needs of families and students."

Von Segren is proud to be coaching students how to be "bucket-fillers," teaching students how to be kind with their words and intentions. She is using curriculum that is solution-focused in both individual and group settings where all students can come to school feeling like it is a safe and caring environment.

"The staff in Sisters across the district have been welcoming and helpful," she said. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know the community."

Classroom teachers and staff will have the ability to refer students to the counselor. Parents can also refer their student by filling out a parent referral form found at the front office.