Developing Your School’s Student Support Teams: A Practical Guide for K-12 Leaders, Student Services Personnel, and Mental Health Staff

Developing Your School’s Student Support Teams is a practical manual for schools seeking to establish and sustain coordinated teams in support of students’ social, emotional and behavioral health. Every day, students struggle with a range of issues, including traumas, that complicate their learning, engagement, and overall well-being. School psychologists, counselors, social workers and nurses are employed in many school districts, but their schedules often make it difficult to collaborate effectively in developing and implementing comprehensive intervention plans. This book promotes teamwork throughout schools by exploring how interdependent practitioners can come together at the appropriate levels and times to help coordinate school and community resources. This "filtering" process will guide K-12 leaders and service professionals toward systems and decision-making that enable long-term student supports, accurate identification of systemic learning barriers, improved school culture and climate, attention to diverse populations, and more. With these proactive teamwork strategies, school staff will be better prepared to share workload and accountability and to identify and build upon the existing strengths and supports of every student.

Steve Berta has taught the Organizational Change and Development courses in the Counselor Education Department at San Jose State University, USA. He previously served as Manager of Student Services in the San Jose Unified School District and was Director of Health Education and Safe and Drug Free Schools for the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Howard Blonsky is a consultant in school mental health and student support services. He previously served as a school social worker and program consultant in the San Francisco Unified School District.

James Wogan is Assistant Director of Student Support Services in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. He previously served as Director of Wellness in the Acalanes Union High School District and as Manager of Student Services in the Berkeley Unified School District.