Hello STEM Middle School Students and Families,
We’ve made it to the end of another week, and before you know it, the winter break will be here. I hope this message finds everyone doing well.
I am writing with some news regarding our Student Support Team. Alex Nardi, one of our Middle School Counselors, will be stepping away from STEM on Friday, Jan. 13. Ms. Nardi has been such a big part of our STEM community and has given so much of herself to supporting our students over the last couple of years. She will be missed, but we know she is off to continue doing amazing things. It says a lot about her character and commitment to our students that she has given us this much notice.
As we begin the search for the best candidate to fill this position, our mental health team has developed a transition plan to ensure the needs of our Middle School students are met. We are asking students to utilize the QR codes for scheduling an appointment with a mental health provider when needed.
Unless it is a true emergency and students need to be seen immediately for their safety or the safety of others, we will rely on the scheduling of appointments through the QR codes to accommodate student requests. This will eliminate the number of time students are out of class waiting to speak to someone and allows our mental health team to more reasonably manage the extra responsibilities they are taking on with this vacancy.
Lisa Clay (MS Counselor), Colene Birchfield and Michael Link (HS Counselors), Katie Bouchard (Social Worker), and I will work together to address the needs of Middle School students collectively as they come in.
Ms. Nardi will wrap up her work with students by Winter Break and then spend her final week working in close collaboration to transition her students to other mental health providers. We ask for your patience as we navigate the commitments that come at the end of the semester and the start of a new one.
The position will be posted shortly on STEM’s Employment page on the website. If you or someone you know meets the qualifications, please don’t hesitate to apply for the position.
I know I speak for so many of us when I say thank you, Alex, for all you’ve given to the STEM community. We wish you all the best.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (jistine.harrison@stemk12.org).
Take care,
Dr. Jistine Harrison, Director of Student Support