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Yakima Online School Interview of Cindy GallonBy Lerin Spurlock

Treatment and Prevention of Family Violence

Tell Me About Yourself

“My name is Cyndi Gallon.  I have been in education 20 years.  I was a high school Spanish teacher for eight years and a school counselor for 12 years.  I have spent the majority of my time with high school students. I currently work at the Yakima Online School”.  

-Cindy Gallon  

Why did you choose to become a School Counselor?

“I enjoyed teaching very much.  For me, being "on" all day was really tiring and having 160 kids a day.  I was sickly and run down most of the time, so I thought I probably couldn't sustain teaching for 40 years.  I think most people need to make changes just for growth purposes anyway.  So I got my masters and I still taught for a bit and then took the leap.  It was hard to leave the classroom but once I got into the counseling job, it has been really fun.  I really like to help kids graduate.  In fact, I love helping kids that would have dropped out to graduate.  It is the most rewarding and fun challenge that I experience.  I also like helping them in a more individual way with their own personal situations.  I think it just fits me.  There is a lot of paperwork but I really feel that all jobs have a downside so I just accept it and feel grateful for the other opportunities I have to help kids”. 

-Cindy Gallon

Yakima On-line Schoolhttp://www.washingtononlineschool.com/yakima/

No matter what your reason, Yakima Online!™ can help you achieve your goal of getting a high school diploma. Yakima Online! is a FREE program offered by Yakima Public Schools that allows you to go to high school online AND graduate with a diploma! The program is a fully accredited solution that provides online courses for students in Yakima Public Schools. We offer a full–time option for students, grades 9-12, who are looking for an alternative to the traditional environment, for whatever reason. With Yakima Online!, you now have another option.

Courses OfferedEarn your High School Diploma

Health Education World Language Language Arts

Advance College Prep

Electives

Math/Science

Social Science/Social Studies

Yakima Online Program Offers:

• Flexible and interactive online classes that fit your schedule

• An online classroom with no distractions or peer pressure

• One-on-one attention from state-certified teachers

• 24/7 student support system

• A nationally and regionally recognized diploma

• More than 90 Online dynamic courses

Reference: http://www.washingtononlineschool.com/yakima/index.html

“Yakima Online offers courses to prepare students for graduation and courses to prepare students for four year universities.  We offer AP courses and many of our students attend YV-Tech to obtain job skills.  We have a site where students come to work and we work with students everyday.  Our school offers the relationship part to online school.  We make a concentrated effort to know all of our students personally and to build a relationship with them.  Students who are working, mentally ill or physically ill, homeless, bullied, are teen parents or who live on their own are among our demographics.  We offer flexibility to students and we offer a small quiet setting for students who are overwhelmed by the big high schools.  We track students weekly and they come in each week to check their progress.  Many of our students choose to work at our site daily while others work at home and come in periodically.  All mid-terms and finals are proctored at our site”. 

-Cindy Gallon

What Services Does The Organization Offer?

“Much of the job is the same, however, I know my students more personally now at Yakima Online.  I have a much smaller caseload.  Our students are high need just like the students at Davis High School where I previously worked”.

-Cindy Gallon

Is There A Difference Between Online School Counselor and High

School Counselor?

What Does a Typical Day Consist Of?

“I check student progress,  write course code grade slips, do credit checks, write 504 plans, do scholarships, organize senior projects, advise students on senior projects, organize graduation and senior activities, individually counsel kids, have intervention meetings for students who are not performing and do intakes with students and parents who are new to Yakima Online.  I collaborate with Children's services, DSHS, Truancy and YV-Tech.   We meet twice monthly to problem solve for our students with needs.  I work with Children's hospital for some our sick students.  I also work closely with the school nurse for students with health needs.  Many of our students need access to insurance, counselors or a doctor.  I also refer out for counseling. I also send out progress reports and senior grad plans to update parents periodically. 

A typical day would usually be taking in a new student, some counseling, some tracking of student's progress,  four or five interventions to help students improve, a little tutoring, writing letters, returning calls, organizing something such as registration or class meetings, transcribing some transcripts, and usually I make a few referrals out for help based on student needs that come that day.   I hardly have time for lunch as students come all day for a variety of needs. I usually make phone calls home to parents and students each day to students who are not performing”.

-Cindy Gallon

• Hungry kids

• Homeless kids

• Students living on their own

• Teen moms • Depression

• Mental illness

• Child abuse issues

• Relationship issues

• Students who are failing their courses • Students who need healthcare 

What are some issues that you deal with as a School Counselor?

“I love working with students and being able to help them.  I like working with my co-workers.  They are all collaborative and want to help kids.  We problem solve very well to meet our student needs and we respect each other very much”.

-Cindy Gallon

What Do You Like Most About Your

Job?

“There is a lot of paper work as we work with two systems and no grading periods so I have to track students individually. Don't really have too many complaints.  I am pretty happy with my job.  I feel like I make a difference and that is motivating to me”. 

-Cindy Gallon

What Do You Like Least About Your

Job?

School Counseling TodayMeeting critical needs across America

• Teach and Tutor• Mentor Youth• Fight poverty• Recognize depression• Respond to abuse &

Neglect• Much, much more…

• Youth, Seniors, and Others In Need benefit from the tutoring, mentoring, health, and other services counselors provide.

• Communities benefit from having better schools, safer streets, and more engaged citizens.

• Organizations gain from helping provide children with safe environments.

• Counselors acquire leadership and career skills, and learn how to be active citizens.

Who Benefits from School Counselors?

We All Do

Definition of Abuse & Neglect

• RCW 26-44-020 (12) defines abuse and neglect as injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person under circumstances which indicate that the child's health, welfare, and safety is harmed. Abuse and neglect does NOT include the physical discipline of a child as defined in RCW 9A.16.100.

Reference: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuseWhat.asp?1

“I think the causes for abuse are usually parents who want to control their children and cannot so they resort to force.  Parents also do not have good communication skills and they repeat what they experienced as children.  I also think drugs and alcohol are almost always a part of the equation”.

-Cindy Gallon

What do you think the causes of child abuse and neglect,

and domestic violence are?

“I think understanding all the components of the problem so that you can be effective in helping the client find a solution for change.  It is also imperative to know as many resources and community folks or programs to help with the solution.  Also, the student/client must have a commitment for change and to seek a solution”.

-Cindy Gallon

 

What do you think are essential elements of

intervention?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LNSAtuC7-w&feature=player_embedded

“I think teaching awareness so that when a situation arises, the student recognizes the problem and has thought about solution options ahead of time.  I think the student needs to understand the problem, the risk and ideas to approach the problem so they will be prepared.  So I guess education is my answer.  I also think that students really like to hear other stories of young people and they relate and learn not to make the same mistakes.  Peer to peer education is very powerful in my opinion”.

-Cindy Gallon

 

 

What do you think are essential elements of prevention?

“I think always knowing the new laws and any new research in regard to signs.  I work with older kids so I am really straight forward with them.  I tell them upfront if they tell me anyone is hurting them, I have to report it.  This way they know what they are getting into with me and they don't feel tricked.  By the time they come to my office, they usually are ready to share regardless if I have to report it.  I just like them to know honestly that I will act if they tell me something”.

-Cindy Gallon

 

What do future counselors need to know about child abuse and

neglect?

Abuse & Neglect Fast FactsAccording to Futures without Violence.org

1:3

Adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner – a figure that far exceeds victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth.

1:5Age 11 to 14 – say their friends are victims of dating violence and nearly half who are in relationships know friends who are verbally abused. Two in five of the youngest tweens, ages 11 and 12, report that their friends are victims of verbal abuse in relationships.

> Likely Teen victims of physical dating violence are more likely than their non-abused peers to smoke, use drugs, engage in unhealthy diet behaviors (taking diet pills or laxatives and vomiting to lose weight), engage in risky sexual behaviors, and attempt or consider suicide.

15.5 MillionChildren in the United States live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the past year, and seven million children live in families in which severe partner violence occurred.

http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/action_center/detail/754?gclid=COuTxbTJrq8CFUUHRQodGE3uoA Reference:

How You Can Support Treatment and Prevention of Family Violence

Volunteer your time Discipline effectively Educate yourself Know what abuse & Neglect is Know whom to contact Spread the word

How can I Help?

Why Join In the Fight?

• To help others

• Career skills

• Adventure

• Benefits

• Serve my community

For more information

DSHS website: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/endharm.shtml

Toll free: 1-866-END-HARM (1-866-363-4276)