Mansfield ISD Offers Free Parenting Classes

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With a silent room awaiting the start of class, former Mansfield ISD counselor Vicki Evans Williams starts by asking the parents in attendance three questions:

1. Would it be worth your time today to learn how to have fewer power struggles with your kids?
2. Would it be worth your time to have it so that your kids do more of the thinking, and you do less of the worrying?  
3. And would it be worth your time to raise the odds that your kids learn from your mistakes? 

Williams, who now works as a volunteer with The Parenting Center, worked as an MISD counselor for about 16 years in the 1980s and 1990s.

She decided to teach Love and Logic classes because she is passionate about training educators and parents to raise and teach children in reassuring ways. The technique uses humor, hope and empathy to teach consequences and healthy decision-making.

“The results are such amazing results,” said Williams. “You see kids do things that you don’t see them do without it.”

Williams wants parents to get their children to see how to make choices so that they can become responsible, prosperous adults.

“Parenting is a tough job,” she continued. “I would recommend this class to parents because it makes that job a lot easier and a whole lot more fun.”

Using Love and Logic techniques has made Williams change the outlook she has on her own life.

“It gives me chances to make better choices myself,” said Williams. “It causes me to stop and think about the different kinds of things that I could do and choose the one that works best for me.”

Parents that attended the class were very appreciative for what they learned.

“I decided to attend the class to get different techniques with different types of children,” said Yazmin Ponce, a parent of two students at Alice Ponder Elementary School. “I hope that they continue to grow the program.”

MISD offers Love and Logic classes at different elementary campuses at least once a month. The sessions are free of charge to parents.

“It’s a great resource I’m able to provide to parents,” said Nicole Brody, counselor at Ponder Elementary. “It gives parents some skills to put in their toolbox.”

Williams’ upcoming class on dealing with day-to-day parenting issues using Love and Logic will be held at Annette Perry Elementary School on Feb. 8 at 8:30 a.m. For more information, visit the district calendar.

MISD Counselors Take Holistic Approach to Help Students Succeed

Counselors at Mansfield ISD do more than just organize student schedules. They work with students so that they are set up for success academically, emotionally and socially.

From programs that ensure students are college and career ready to prevention and awareness programs, the counselors work to prepare students for their best future.

In fact, Mansfield ISD’s dual credit program is the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with students receiving the opportunity to earn college credit, even an associate degree, while still in high school.

“All of us are attending to the whole child,” said Holly McCanlies, director of guidance and counseling. “There are counselors at each campus, and many people don’t know that we have student support counselors.”

Rowe said building positive relationships with students is key.

The six MISD support counselors are privately licensed therapists with the sole purpose of tending to student needs.

“Our society today has higher levels of anxiety and depression,” explained Cassandra Rowe, support counselor for the Timberview High School feeder pattern. “Whatever goes on in society we also see here at school, and so we are the people who respond.”

McCanlies said she is honored to be part of such an impactful department in the school district and appreciates the support she receives from staff and the community to help put students first.

“Counselors are striving daily to work with students and to impart skills that help them be resilient and help them have vision so that there are no obstacles once they leave Mansfield ISD,” she said.

A Little-Known Resource for MISD High Schoolers

Smith (middle) and Spikes (right) walked a student through
the college application process.

For high schoolers who need some extra guidance with anything and everything related to college, free help is only a hallway or two away.

Mansfield ISD partners with The University of Texas at Arlington and inspirED to provide each high school with GO Centers. The centers connect high school students with college mentors who help them throughout the year with topics ranging from college admission, career choices and scholarships.

“Sometimes parents don’t have the time or knowledge to give their children what they need for college,” said Michelle Smith, counselor at Frontier High School. “Students come in who are first-generation college goers or who don’t have the means to help themselves. The Go Centers give them that extra one-on-one time.”

Smith said the centers have been a great extension to the counseling program.

At Frontier High School, former graduates are the ones manning the booths. Graduate Abigail Spikes said she was ready for college, but decided to come back and help other high schoolers when she realized everyone wasn’t as fortunate.

GO Centers are located near the counseling office.

“A lot of my friends didn’t have everything together for college,” said the Dallas Baptist University freshman. “I felt called to come back because college is incredibly scary if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Spikes wants each high school student to know that they are not alone.

“We are here to help. We can schedule college visits, register for the SAT/ACT, talk about dual credit—there’s so many ways to get you on the right track after graduation, and it’s right here on campus for free.”

Students can set up appointments to visit their school’s Go Center by visiting the campus website. After choosing a campus, select the “resources” option on the top menu and select “Counseling Center.”