Counselor’s Corner
KHCS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
The resources on this site contain valuable information about the school counseling program at Kestrel. Feel free to peruse the materials and contact the counselors with any questions!
KHS Counseling Department Mission Statement: The counseling department’s mission is to provide services and support to students and their families to maximize students’ potential for academic, social, and emotional success.
Selena Pruitt – Counselor
Ms. Selena Pruitt
selenapruitt@kestrelheights.
Phone: 919-484-1300 X 208
Please remember that because we are with students, teachers, and parents all day long, we typically check our email and phone messages once per day. In a true emergency where you need to get in touch with a counselor to address something the same day, please call the front office to track one of us down.
What is your confidentiality/privacy policy?
Do parents/guardians need to give special permission for their child to see the school counselor?
Who sees the school counselor?
How can I refer my child for counseling services?
Please utilize the confidential referral link provided to refer your child to the counselor. In a same-day emergency, please call the front office to have Ms. Barber track one of us down.
Can you see my child for counseling all year?
Counselors:
Bullying:
The Bully Project Parent Resources
What Is Bullying?
High School Guide For Parents:
Definition of McKinney-Vento Act
42 USC §11431. Statement of policy
The following is the policy of the Congress:
(1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
(2) In any State where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements, in laws, regulations, practices, or policies, may act as a barrier to the identification of, or the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of, homeless children and youths, the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
(3) Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.
Eligibility under McKinney-Vento
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:
- Sharing the housing of other person due to loss of housing economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- LIving in emergency or transitional shelters
- Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- Migratory children living in the above circumstances
- Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
Parent/Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Rights:
Unaccompanied homeless youth are ensured the same educational rights that the McKinney-Vento Act provides for other homeless students, which include the right to:
- Enroll immediately, even if they do not currently have paperwork normally required for enrollment
- Attend either the local attendance area school or the school of origin, with the placement decision based on the student’s best interest
- Remain in the school of origin for the duration of the homelessness or until the end of the school year in which the student becomes permanently housed
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin
- Receive educational services, such as free school meals, Title 1 services; and participate in gifted and talented programs, vocational education alternative education, and any other services comparable to what housed students receive
- Not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless
NCHE Parent Rights Brochure
In additional to the provisions that apply to all homeless students, the McKinney-Vento Act includes the following provisions specifically for unaccompanied homeless youth:
- Unaccompanied homeless youth shall be immediately enrolled without proof of guardianship
- During a dispute over school selection or enrollment, unaccompanied homeless youth shall receive a written statement explaining the school’s decision, the youth’s right to appeal the decision, and a referral to the local liaison.
Youth Education Rights Poster
Parent Educational Rights Poster
Local liaisons shall assist unaccompanied homeless youth in:
- Selecting a school of attendance and enrolling in school.
- Requesting transportation to and from the school of origin.
- Enrolling in school immediately while disputes are resolved.
Please direct all questions about eligibility and services to:
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison: Selena Pruitt
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison’s Email: selenapruitt@kestrelheights.
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison’s Number: 919-484-1300 Ext. 208
Additional McKinney-Vento information and homeless data:
Lisa Phillips, State Coordinator – lphillip@serve.org
NC Homeless Education Program Historical Data
KHCS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
The resources on this site contain valuable information about the school counseling program at Kestrel. Feel free to peruse the materials and contact the counselors with any questions!
KHS Counseling Department Mission Statement: The counseling department’s mission is to provide services and support to students and their families to maximize students’ potential for academic, social, and emotional success.
Morgan Callahan – Counselor
Grades 6-8
- My daughter’s name is a Gaelic word that means “freedom” – can you guess what it is?
- I love to read, run, hike, watch movies, and work in my garden!
- I love the UNC Tar Heels!
Sujeit Llanes – Counselor,
Grades K-5
Email: callahan@kestrelheights.org
Ms. Llanes:
Email: sujeitllanes@kestrelheights.or
Phone: 919-484-1300 X 325
Please remember that because we are with students, teachers, and parents all day long, we typically check our email and phone messages once per day. In a true emergency where you need to get in touch with a counselor to address something the same day, please call the front office to have Ms. Barber track one of us down.
What is your confidentiality/privacy policy?
Do parents/guardians need to give special permission for their child to see the school counselor?
Who sees the school counselor?
How can I refer my child for counseling services?
Please utilize the confidential referral link provided to refer your child to the counselor. In a same-day emergency, please call the front office to have Ms. Barber track one of us down.
Can you see my child for counseling all year?
Definition of McKinney-Vento Act
42 USC §11431. Statement of policy
The following is the policy of the Congress:
(1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
(2) In any State where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements, in laws, regulations, practices, or policies, may act as a barrier to the identification of, or the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of, homeless children and youths, the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
(3) Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.
Eligibility under McKinney-Vento
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:
- Sharing the housing of other person due to loss of housing economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- LIving in emergency or transitional shelters
- Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- Migratory children living in the above circumstances
- Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
Parent/Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Rights:
Unaccompanied homeless youth are ensured the same educational rights that the McKinney-Vento Act provides for other homeless students, which include the right to:
- Enroll immediately, even if they do not currently have paperwork normally required for enrollment
- Attend either the local attendance area school or the school of origin, with the placement decision based on the student’s best interest
- Remain in the school of origin for the duration of the homelessness or until the end of the school year in which the student becomes permanently housed
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin
- Receive educational services, such as free school meals, Title 1 services; and participate in gifted and talented programs, vocational education alternative education, and any other services comparable to what housed students receive
- Not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless
NCHE Parent Rights Brochure
In additional to the provisions that apply to all homeless students, the McKinney-Vento Act includes the following provisions specifically for unaccompanied homeless youth:
- Unaccompanied homeless youth shall be immediately enrolled without proof of guardianship
- During a dispute over school selection or enrollment, unaccompanied homeless youth shall receive a written statement explaining the school’s decision, the youth’s right to appeal the decision, and a referral to the local liaison.
Youth Education Rights Poster
Parent Educational Rights Poster
Local liaisons shall assist unaccompanied homeless youth in:
- Selecting a school of attendance and enrolling in school.
- Requesting transportation to and from the school of origin.
- Enrolling in school immediately while disputes are resolved.
Please direct all questions about eligibility and services to:
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison: Stacy Kennedy
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison’s Email: kennedy@kestrelheights.org
KHCS McKinney-Vento Liaison’s Number: 919-484-1300 Ext.302
Additional McKinney-Vento information and homeless data:
Lisa Phillips, State Coordinator – lphillip@serve.org
NC Homeless Education Program Historical Data