The counseling program at Sycamore Elementary School is one of five schools throughout Tennessee that has been recognized as a model program by the American School Counseling Association.
School Counselor Ally Evans said the designation, known as a Recognized ASCA (ascuh) Model Program (RAMP), highlights the impact and structure of the school’s counseling efforts. Evans said the school evaluates student needs from year to year, rather than having a cookie-cutter counseling program.
“What are our demographics this year? What are their needs? What kind of behaviors are we seeing, or attendance, or how are the grades across all the different grades?” Evans said. “And then those interventions that we put into place are based on that information.”
Evans said the approach has led to creative and targeted lessons aimed at improving both behavior and social skills. Evans said one example was where students practiced communication skills in a simulated real-world setting after she noticed students struggling to communicate with each other.
“I did a whole lesson because of that, a series of four lessons on social skills and how to interact with each other, ask questions, listen, and follow up questions,” Evans said. “Then, after that fourth lesson, we practiced all those skills in a hands-on way. And I made my room look like a coffee shop. And so they were, they had questions I gave them to ask each other. They were looking at each other. They had to also show good manners and things like that as they ate their snack and drank their drink. It’s just that extra step, that creativity to make it real life, and to increase that engagement with the kids.”
Beyond social development, Evans said the counseling program plays a key role in supporting academic success by addressing challenges like anxiety and classroom behavior.
“We definitely see those things cross over,” Evans said. “But that’s the goal too. Is it crossing over to real life where they’re actually using these skills and utilizing them to help them be more successful and a more successful kid and human?”
Evans said this is the second time Sycamore Elementary has received the certification. The certification lasts for five years and is often used for other school counseling programs to model their own after. Evans said the certification is a huge accomplishment for the school.
“It feels really amazing and wonderful that someone recognizes it and says, you are doing good work,” Evans said.
Evans also said the honor reflects a broader commitment across Putnam County Schools to student well-being and development, both inside and outside the classroom.
