Hey Koalas! My name is Paige Hellman and I am the counselor at Kilpatrick Elementary. This is my 5th year at Kilpatrick as the school counselor and I can't imagine being anywhere else besides the Outback! I am incredibly passionate about the emotional, social and  behavioral  success of all students, and I look forward to continuing to build strong relationships with my students and their families. Please know that my door is always open, and I am here to support the OKE students, staff and community however I can!

Prior to my current role I have taught second grade and fourth grade. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education (EC-6) from Texas Tech University and a Master's Degree in Professional School Counseling from Lamar University. In addition, I am an Advanced Certified Trauma & Resilience Practitioner (ACTRP) through Starr Commonwealth.

In my spare time, I love spending time with my family. My husband Ryan and I have 2 kids. Jackson is three years old and Carter is 9 months old. I love spending time with friends, being outside, and cheering on my Texas Tech Red Raiders!

Whole Group Guidance Lessons: I teach meaningful, engaging guidance lessons to each homeroom class multiple times each year. Guidance lessons focus on a wide range of topics, like bullying, test-taking strategies, emotional regulation, and friendship skills. This is all in an effort to support students' academic, social and emotional success. The lessons are tailored to meet the individualized needs of each grade level. Teachers can request additional lesson(s) if their class shows the need. 

Individual Counseling: I provide short-term, individualized counseling to meet the mental health and behavioral needs of my students. I work with students on goal setting, problem-solving and teach them strategies to use in order to overcome personal obstacles. My main focus is addressing problems that impede success within the school environment. Also, I recognize and respond to students who have experienced trauma or are in a state of crisis. If a student requires ongoing, long-term support, I refer the family to an outside agency. 

Small Group Counseling: I provide short-term, goal focused small group counseling to meet the mental health and behavioral needs of my students. These students come together to work on a common need or concern. I facilitate the process by teaching the students strategies that will help them be successful both in the classroom and in the real world. Common small group topics include understanding and recognizing anxiety, emotional regulation and friendship skills. 

Consultation & Referrals:I collaborate and share strategies with parents, teachers and other community members to support student success and academic achievement. Additionally, I refer families to outside community support, resources and services whenever they are needed. 

PALS: PALs stands for Peer Assistance and Leadership. This program is a peer assistance program offering selected high school students the opportunity to work as trained peer facilitators with students on our campus. During each weekly visit, our students will have the opportunity to play games and build a relationship with their PAL mentor. 

KEYS Mentoring:   KEYS stands for "Keep Encouraging Youth Towards Success." The Katy ISD KEYS Mentoring program matches a caring adult (i.e.- teacher, coach, community member, etc.) with a student on the brink of success. The student and their mentor meet weekly for 30-45 minutes on campus throughout the duration of the school year. The primary focus of this program is to build a strong relationship between the mentor and the mentee rather than tutoring, although it has been found that increased student academic success often occurs.