COUNSELORS:
Jennifer Pugh - 7th Grade A-K & 8th Grade; Laura Cathcart - 7th Grade L-Z and 6th Grade; Natalie Shanks - Special Programs
PHONE:
Mrs. Pugh - 464-6609; Mrs. Cathcart - 464-6611; Mrs. Shanks - 464-6610
Please Note - Counselors move up a grade level with the students at the end
of each school year. 8th grade counselors will begin following school year
as 6th grade counselors.
Jennifer Pugh - (7th Grade A-K & 8th Grade counselor) This is my sixth year
at Deerpark, and my tenth year as a school counselor. I have worked
both at the elementary level and at the middle school level. I taught middle
school social studies before becoming a counselor. I received a bachelor's
degree in education from East Texas Baptist University, and earned my
master's degree in school counseling from the University of Texas at Tyler. I
am excited about working with your children this year and getting to know
them!
Laura Cathcart - (grade 6 and 7 L-Z counselor) This is my seventh year at
Deerpark, and my ninth year as a school counselor at the middle school
level. Before working in public school, I worked in residential treatment
with children with severe emotional disturbances. I received a bachelor's
degree in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, and earned my
master's degree in school counseling from the University of Northern
Colorado. I have taken my course work and NCE test for my LPC, licensed
professional counselor, and hope to have my supervision completed within the
next two years. I am also Trauma I certified through TLC, National Institute
for Trauma and Loss in Children. I am passionate about prevention and
listening to what kids have to say!
Natalie Shanks - Special Programs (504 and TAG) This is my 12th year in the
District as a Counselor and 23rd year in Education! Before receiving my M.Ed
in Counseling at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, I spent the
first half of my career as a high school art teacher in Baytown, Texas at
Ross S. Sterling High School (also the RANGERS)and in ElPaso, Texas, at
Americas High School. Although I am only here half time, I am excited to be a
Ranger...again.
A Note To Parents: The Deerpark counseling staff is available to you and
looks forward to discussing your student's concerns and/or academic progress.
Please understand that counselors have many responsibilities and
obligations to both students and faculty/administration and are not always
available to meet with you. We regret that parents often take time off from
their job to travel to the school campus only to discover that the counselor
is working with a student, teaching classroom guidance for the day, out ill,
off campus at a meeting, etc. It best serves both you and the
counselor if you call ahead and make an appointment. In doing so, you give
the counselor time to prepare for your visit so that he/she can efficiently
maximize your time.