Student Counseling and Support

Each staff and faculty member at Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School ( La Academia) is a passionate advocate for the children and parents/guardians in La Academia’s community. We are a committed group of professionals who operate with integrity, respect and kindness. Our goal is to work in partnership with each student’s family. When we are able to work cohesively and with a growth mindset, we are better able to ensure and inspire joyful, confident learners. We are committed to creating efficient and effective structures and supports to meet the needs of our children and parents/guardians.

With that, when you access this link, you will find a list of community resources that may be helpful to you and/or your family. Click on the link under the category that best suits your needs. Each link will take you to a list of local resources that you may find helpful.

La Academia recognizes the importance of teaching the whole child.  Our school counselor works with individuals, small groups, and classes on social and emotional well being.  La Academia also has a partnership that allows external doctoral students to come to the school to work with students individually and in small groups.

Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating focused awareness. It teaches students how to focus in the present by paying attention to thoughts, feelings, and the surrounding environment. When one is mindful, one is aware of their body’s sensations without judgement. Mindfulness is not only being aware of one’s sensations, but accepting what is.

One of the benefits of Mindfulness is that it helps one to fully engage in activities. It allows a practitioner to gain a greater capacity to deal with adverse events, learn ways to cope with anxiety, strengthen self-esteem, and identify techniques to relieve stress. Research has shown that Mindfulness also reduces the impact of trauma and improves students’ outcome.

Mindfulness is practiced at Academia Antonia Alonso as an approach to decrease symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness equips students and adults with the ability to cope with challenging situations, resolve conflict and feel compassion and empathy for themselves and others.

The goal of teaching Mindfulness at our school is to create a culture of self-awareness and well-being where students are able to succeed in dealing with stress, trauma and conquering challenges by purposely engaging in activities that will increase their learning.

La Academia is committed to bringing Mindfulness activities to both students and staff to enrich the school’s culture.

La Academia’s approach to student success has evolved as the academic community has learned from student outcomes since the conception of Academia Antonia Alonso.  Beginning during the 2021-2022 school year, the The Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) became more strategic, structured and more diversified.  It now includes the Dean of Cirruclum and Instruction, Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Access, Dean of Culture and Climate, School Counselor, Psychologist, Educational Diagnostician, and support from doctoral externs and Social Emotional Specialists.  Through the intentional implementation of a school wide behavioral intervention system created through the lens of compassion and trauma informed, the MTSS Team will continue to work to support La Academia students as they create their version of success both in and out of the classroom.

The following is a written declaration of our principles and intentions as members of the MTSS at Academia Antonia Alonso.  These principles will fill us with a sense of purpose and will help us focus our commitment and dedication to the children, parents and teachers of La Academia.

The members of the MTSS are passionate advocates for the children, parents and teachers at Academia Antonia Alonso.   We are a collaborative and committed group of professionals who are organized and operate with integrity, respect and kindness.  We work as a cohesive, balanced unit with a growth mindset to ensure and inspire joyful, confident learners. We see problems as opportunities for growth and implement diverse approaches to problem solving.   We are committed to creating efficient and effective structures and supports to meet the needs of our children, parents and teachers. Our decisions are firmly grounded in the school’s mission, vision and core values.  The path for each of us begins now as we commit to live by these principles each and every day.