School Counseling

At Amherst Elementary, our school counseling program is committed to supporting the growth and well-being of every student. We focus on social-emotional learning, academic success, and college and career readiness to help students reach their full potential. Services are provided through classroom lessons, small group experiences, and individual counseling. Above all, we are dedicated advocates for children.

Professional school counselors are certified/licensed educators with a master’s degree or higher in school counseling, making them uniquely qualified to address the developmental needs of all students. School counselors address students’ academic, career, and social/emotional needs by designing, implementing, evaluating, and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and helps maximize student success.

Meet the School Counselors Mission, Vision, and Beliefs What Do School Counselors Do? Attendance and Why It Matters Links and Resources

Making a Referral

Student Self-Referral

There are several ways to connect with Mrs. Torres and Mrs. Pattillo!

Pre-K – 3rd Grade:

Ask your teacher to submit a counselor referral for you.
Write a note and place it in the mailbox outside the counselor’s office door.

4th – 5th Grade:

You can do everything Pre-K through 3rd graders can do:
– Ask your teacher to submit a referral
– Leave a note in the counselor's mailbox
Or, you can fill out your own request using THIS LINK (only for 4th & 5th graders).

At Home?

Talk to your caregivers! They can email us or call the school to set up a time for us to meet. They even have their own request form they can fill out too!

And remember — anytime you’re unsure, you can stop by the counseling office and check in to see if we’re available!

Caregiver Referral

Caregivers, please click here to submit information about a student who needs to see the school counselors.

Understanding Confidentiality

Amherst school counselors are committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Information shared during individual or group counseling sessions is kept private, in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal standards.

However, for the safety and well-being of all students, there are important limits to confidentiality. Counselors may need to share relevant information in the following situations:

To consult with a teacher or school administrator in order to support the student effectively
If a student shares that they are being harmed, have harmed someone else, or are planning to harm themselves or others

In such cases, the counselor will involve the appropriate adults or authorities to ensure the student’s safety.

If you have any questions about confidentiality, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school counselor directly.

Teacher Referral

Our school counselors have a wealth of resources and strategies to help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. We also welcome conversations with caregivers!

Email:

Mrs. Courteney Torres Mrs. Brittany Pattillo

Phone: You can reach the counseling office at 865-560-7001 (press 3).

Students can meet with a school counselor in several ways:

Self-referral: Students can come directly to the counselor.
Teacher referral: Students can let their teacher know they would like to meet; teachers can share these requests with the counselor.
Caregiver referral: Parents or guardians may call or email the counselor anytime, or fill out the caregiver referral form (linked above). All responses go directly to the counselor and remain confidential unless permission is given to share.

Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Emergency Note: In a crisis or emergency, call 911 or visit your local emergency room.

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