COUNSELOR'S CORNER

Mrs. Doyle, 8th Grade Counselor and

Mrs. Gambino, 7th Grade Counselor

Mrs. Kathryn Doyle, 8th Grade Counselor (Email)

251-928-2573

Mrs. Margaret Gambino, 7th Grade Counselor (Email)

251-928-2573

Dear Parents:

My name is Kathryn Doyle, and I am the 8th Grade School Counselor for Fairhope Middle School. I am very excited about the opportunity to work together with the students, faculty, staff, and Administration of such a great school. Mrs. Gambino, the new 7th grade School Counselor, and I are looking forward to getting to know you and your students during the 2020/2021 school year.

Regarding my background, I have been employed by the Baldwin County Board of Education since March of 2005 as both an Elementary and Middle School Counselor. My education includes a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Alabama. I have been licensed with the state of Alabama as a Professional Counselor since March of 1992.

Mrs. Margaret Gambino is the 7th grade School Counselor. She has been employed for over 20 years at Fairhope Middle School as a special education teacher and has served as the IEP Chairperson. Mrs. Gambino graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1999 with a BS in Special Education and in 2003 with a MS is School Counseling.

As School Counselors, we love what we do, and are committed to helping your student be successful.



At Fairhope Middle School, School Counselors are responsible for:

1. Providing direct counseling services to students individually, in small group, or large group instruction as needed

2. Providing education and support services to parents

3. Providing consultation services to teachers

4. Facilitating referrals to community support services

5. Advising students on academic planning and career guidance including helping students understand standardized test score results

6. Working with Fairhope High School to inform students of the academic requirements for high school, including assisting students with registration and development of the state mandated high school 4 year plan (Mrs. Doyle)

7. Acting as Building Test Coordinator (Mrs. Doyle)

8. Conducting Attendance Early Warning Conferences As Needed (Mrs. Gambino)

9. Serving on the RTI (Response to Instruction) Team

10. Serving on the School Improvement Team As Needed- ACIPS

11. Serving as Homebound/Section 504 Coordinators

12. Conducting annual required teacher training (Mrs. Doyle)

13. Monitoring online Bullying Reporting Program

14. Coordinating the Peer Helper Program

15. Serving on the dance committee (Mrs. Doyle)

16. School Website Manager (Mrs. Doyle)

17. USATestprep Administrator and ACPS (Kuder) Administrator (Mrs. Doyle)

18. Assistance with Scantron testing



Should you wish for us to speak with your student, please do not hesitate to either call or email us. Please be aware that there may be a time when we may talk with your student due to a self-referral, student referral, teacher/staff referral, agency referral, or Administrative referral.



We are immediately available to meet with any student in crisis. However, every attempt is made by us not to interrupt academic classes (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies) whenever possible for non-emergency situations. We have an open door policy for students, and also maintain a sign in sheet for students requesting to speak with a Counselor. The FMS Counseling Office is a Safe Space where ALL students are welcome.

As School Counselors, we maintain a brief list of local private counseling services for referral purposes for parents interested in private counseling for their student. Click Here for the list. This referral list is not a recommendation for any provider of private counseling services. Please understand that School Counselors are unable to meet with individual students on a regular basis due to the volume of students at our school and other duties. Also, we are not therapists. Should a parent request that his/her student meet with a counselor on a regular basis, we would need to make a referral to an outside agency/therapist. If your child is resistant to seeing a therapist, please click here for helpful information.

AltaPointe provides an on site counselor who comes to FMS weekly to see students. This school based service is provided via a referral from a School Counselor to AltaPointe. An AltaPointe counselor can only see students at FMS who have these insurances: PEEHIP, Medicaid, or ALL Kids. Parents interested in AltaPointe school based counseling are welcome to contact the School Counselors for more information.

Please check out the school website at least weekly because we will announce/post Counseling and Guidance activities for both 7th and 8th grades as well as information about important upcoming events such as the 8th grade Career Expo field trip in September (Cancelled for 2020), and the high school registration parent meeting in February/March.

Fairhope Middle School's Counseling and Guidance Programs

1. You Are Unique Program for 7th Grade and Socially Unacceptable for 8th Grade

2. Alabama Career Planning System (ACPS/Kuder) for 7th and 8th grades. 8th Grade students develop their high school 4 year plan via ACPS (Kuder).

3. Activities/Programs in recognition of Suicide Prevention Week, Red Ribbon Week, Bullying Prevention Week/Choose Kindness Week, and Youth Violence Prevention Week, for 7th and 8th Grade and other programs as needed

4. Standardized testing education for students and facilitating test prep activities

5. Peer Tutoring Program

6. Attendance workshops for students to improve school attendance

7. Internet Safety Program (Child Advocacy Center)

8. Coping Skills Program

9. Certified Peer Helper Program

Counselor's Corner

COUNSELOR'S CORNER