Supports at School

The Health Services team collaborates with educational and support services within the school and the community to promote student health for student achievement. Licensed school nurses (LSN) and health paraprofessionals work together to meet students’ physical, social, and emotional health needs, in addition to promoting the health and safety of the entire school community. Our school health offices are staffed each student day by a health services paraprofessional with licensed school nurse support in the building or on-call within the District.

The Licensed School Nurse with the health professional promotes and maintains the health and well-being of all students. The LSN are registered nurses with a BSN and are licensed in public health and school nursing. The nurse will provide referrals to community resources as needed in collaboration with the parents. Health Paraprofessionals provide routine and emergency first aid care to students and staff with illness and injuries. They provide care to students with chronic medical conditions as delegated by the LSN. View the Health Services website for more resources and forms.

School counselors make a measurable impact in every student’s life, assisting with academic, career and personal/social development. A school counselor is a member of the education team, and is someone who gives valuable assistance to students, helping them with their academic goals, their social and personal development, and with their career development. Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program.

Professional school counselors are trained in both educating and counseling, allowing them to function as a facilitator between parents, teachers and the student in matters concerning the student’s goals, abilities and any areas needing improvement. School counselors provide services not only to students in need, but to all students. School counselors spend most of their time in direct service to and contact with students. School counselors' duties are focused on the overall delivery of the total program through school counseling core curriculum, individual student planning and responsive services.

At Austin Public Schools, the role of the school counselor is to be the primary person of support that parents and teachers seek out to assist students. Particularly, in the secondary settings, the counselor coordinates the information across settings and facilitates the process to ensure student success.

School social workers are an integral link between school, home, and community in helping students achieve academic success. They work directly with school administrations and the building Student Support Team, as well as students and families, providing leadership in well-being assessments, crisis management, and support services. The social worker acts as part of an interdisciplinary team to help students succeed. The school social workers also facilitate community referrals and involvement in the schools while advocating for student success.

District social workers provide direct and indirect support to students with special needs in the area of social, emotional and behavioral interventions. Often the school social worker may be a first contact in gathering a health and educational history when a student is referred for an evaluation for special education. The school social worker provides evidence based supported education, intervention services; individual and small groups, and promotes the school climate and maximizes connections for students, families and community resources.

School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education, completing a minimum of a specialist-level degree program. This training emphasizes preparation in mental health and educational interventions, child development, learning, behavior, motivation, curriculum and instruction, assessment, consultation, collaboration, school law, and systems. School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).

At Austin Public Schools, the role of the school psychologist is predominately dedicated towards the process of evaluating and re-evaluating students for special education services. Each psychologist is a part of the school’s Student Support Team that oversees the pre-referral and intervention process. In this process, data is analyzed and ideas for interventions are created and monitored. If a special education assessment is required, the psychologist’s role is the following: administer, evaluate and interpret results of individual assessment instruments/procedures that measure learning ability/cognitive assessments and social, emotional, and behavior development.

Student Support Services Facilitators provide leadership for building level special education departments. Facilitators are licensed special education teachers. Facilitators coordinate and monitor the school district system for referral including Child Study Team, assessment and service options for students who meet special education criteria. In addition to monitoring the Child Study Team, facilitators attend and participate in Student Support Teams. Facilitators administer, evaluate and interpret results of individual assessment instruments/procedures that measure academic achievement and social, emotional, and behavior development. Facilitators assure building level due process compliance within their buildings.

Student Support Services Facilitators team with building counseling staff to generate schedules for incoming students that receive special education services. In addition to collaborating with school counselors, facilitators work to resolve programming concerns for students in special education.

Section 504 is a federal law which protects the rights of persons with qualifying disabilities. 504 requires that recipients of federal funds make their programs and activities accessible to all persons with disabilities that interfere with major life activities such as: caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating and working. If there is a qualifying disability that your child needs accommodations for, we will review your child's information and develop and implement an accommodation plan.

Section 504 Coordinator
Sheri Willrodt
Executive Director of Special Services
401 3^rd Avenue NW
Austin, MN  55912
Phone:  507-460-1916
Email: sheri.willrodt@austin.k12.mn.us

Austin Public Schools partners with Nexus-Gerard to offer co-located mental health professionals and services within the school setting.

This support has been accessed by referral through a District school social worker or school counselor at their building for students that need additional intensive support and may have barriers to accessing this support outside of the school system.

Beth Lahann, LPN
School Nurse
507-460-1402
bethany.lahann@austin.k12.mn.us

Lori Coughlin-Jeffrey
School Social Worker
507-460-4968
lori.coughlin@austin.k12.mn.us

Melissa Kossoris
School Psychologist
507-460-1412
melissa.kossoris@austin.k12.mn.us

Christene Lieffort, LPN
School Nurse
507-460-1202
christene.lieffort@austin.k12.mn.us

Kendra Hotchkiss
School Counselor
507-460-6143
kendra.hotchkiss@austin.k12.mn.us

Chris Napton
School Psychologist
507-460-1612
chris.napton@austin.k12.mn.us

Tanya Fjelsta, RN
School Nurse
507-460-1603
tanya.fjelsta@austin.k12.mn.us

Emily Beaver
School Social Worker
507-460-3103
emily.beaver@austin.k12.mn.us

Chris Napton
School Psychologist
507-460-1612
chris.napton@austin.k12.mn.us

Jennifer Adams, RN
School Nurse
507-460-1305
jenn.adams@austin.k12.mn.us

Stephen Jewett
School Counselor
507-460-1307
stephen.jewett@austin.k12.mn.us

Kevin Anderson
School Psychologist
507-460-1312
kevin.anderson@austin.k12.mn.us

Patty Stundahl, LPN
School Nurse
507-460-1100
patty.stundahl@austin.k12.mn.us

Kayla Wollenburg
School Counselor
507-460-6192
kayla.wollenburg@austin.k12.mn.us

Erica Steinkamp
School Psychologist
507-460-1312
erica.steinkamp@austin.k12.mn.us

Kim Taylor, LPN
School Nurse
507-460-1531
Fax: 507-355-1608
kim.taylor@austin.k12.mn.us

Lynn Keenan
School Counselor
507-460-1533
lynn.keenan@austin.k12.mn.us

Kirstin Norby
Student Support Professional
507-460-1535
kirstin.norby@austin.k12.mn.us

Rebecca Gullickson
School Social Worker
507-460-1525
rebecca.gullickson@austin.k12.mn.us

Lisa Row
School Psychologist
507-460-1533
lisa.row@austin.k12.mn.us

Marge Bridgeman, RN
School Nurse
507-460-1507
Fax: 507-433-0725
marjorie.bridgeman@austin.k12.mn.us

Zachary Langreck
School Counselor
507-460-1513
zachary.langreck@austin.k12.mn.us

Farin Delaney
School Counselor
507-460-1517
farin.delaney@austin.k12.mn.us

Rebecca Gullickson
School Social Worker
507-460-1500
rebecca.gullickson@austin.k12.mn.us

Lea Oelfke
REACH Counselor
507-460-1510
lea.oelfke@austin.k12.mn.us

Erica Steinkamp
School Psychologist
507-460-1500
erica.steinkamp@austin.k12.mn.us

Lisa Row
School Psychologist
507-460-1512
lisa.row@austin.k12.mn.us

Brea Nelson, RN
School Nurse
(507)460-1800
brea.nelson@austin.k12.mn.us

Sarah Schmit
School Counselor
Last Names A-Ha
sarah.schmit@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1817

Stephanie Emanuel
School Counselor
Last Names He-O
stephanie.emanuel@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1813

Cassidy Hartmann
School Counselor
Last Names P-Z
cassidy.hartmann@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1814

Kim Goblirsch
Student Success Coordinator
kim.goblirsch@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800

Krystal Webbinger
REACH Social Worker
krystal.webinger@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800

Yudith Molina
REACH Mental Health Practitioner
yudith.molina@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800

Julie Hale
School Social Worker
julie.hale@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1816

Angie Taylor
School Social Worker
angie.taylor@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800

Taylor Bordelon
School Psychologist
taylor.bordelon@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800