During the 2023 TASA Midwinter Conference, HillCo Partners was honored to host two opportunities for attendees. During a HillCo Partners Luncheon on Monday afternoon, attendees were provided insight on needed policies and ways communities are addressing school safety and mental health. Monday evening, HillCo Partners together with Thompson & Horton LLP provided a networking and social event for education administrators and professionals to catch up with colleagues who work across this great state.
Dr. Angelica Ramsey, Superintendent of Fort Worth ISD; Mary Libby, Northside ISD Director of Counseling; Kim Bolz-Andolshek, Gaggle Vice-President; and Jennifer Esterline, Meadows Institute’s Vice President of Child and Family Strategy.
Dr. Angelica Ramsey who serves as the Superintendent of Fort Worth ISD moderated the discussion during the luncheon with panelists: Mary Libby, Northside ISD Director of Counseling; Kim Bolz-Andolshek, Gaggle Vice-President; and Jennifer Esterline, Meadows Institute’s Vice President of Child and Family Strategy.
Ramsey set the stage for discussions as she pointed out the need for continued investment and flexibility for use of funds since districts are best situated to adequately address the myriad of needs for their students and teachers.
Bolz-Andolshek took a moment to note teachers are also impacted by student trauma as they may find themselves recipients of students reaching out for help. This underscores the need to protect both students and staff. Attendees were reminded that data showed a significant rise two years ago in suicide and self-harm. Additionally, now rising significantly in the last year is violence towards others, harassment, and drug use.
Esterline pointed to a statistic of children seeking treatment in emergency rooms which rose by 28% and included children spending days or weeks waiting for a mental health care provider. At the Meadow’s Institute, Esterline stated the focus is on a multi-tiered system of support framework. “If you do tier 1 well, then there is less need for tier 2 and 3. But you still have students who will have needs to be addressed in tier 2 and 3.” She concluded dollars have to be flexible to address and tailor needs to students but more work is needed for the legislative community and the community at large to see student outcomes tied to the key role of mental health.
Libby left the audience with a sobering picture of counseling needs in districts and urged the audience to continue to advocate for districts’ flexibility of funds to be able to address the needs they see in their district in a way that will work with their community.
