At Pea Ridge Middle School, Counselor Megan Harness serves over 450 students in grades 5-6, providing support through whole-class lessons, small group sessions, and individual counseling. National guidelines recommend one counselor per 250 students, making her role even more essential.
Her lessons are designed around student needs—recent topics have included coping skills, inclusivity, bullying, social media safety, and personal responsibility. In a recent coping skills lesson, 95% of students reported feeling much calmer afterward, leaving with valuable tools to manage their emotions.
Beyond the classroom, she facilitates small groups on topics like motivation, confidence, focus, and managing perfectionism, while also providing individual counseling to around 60% of students each year. But Megan’s impact doesn’t stop with students—she loves working with families and strengthening relationships between students and their grown-ups.
Her guiding question? "How are students different as a result of my counseling program?" The answer can be seen in improved achievement, attendance, and behavior across the school.
This week, we encourage you to take a moment to thank our counselors for their unwavering support, compassion, and commitment to student success. Their work truly makes a difference!