New Student Information

EPISD professional school counselors are certified/licensed educators trained in school counseling with unique qualifications to address all students’ academic, personal/social and career development needs.  School counselors implement school counseling programs that promote and enhance student achievement. They provide direct services to students to help them manage academic and social needs and to support efforts of teachers and parents in promoting self-confidence, academic readiness, social and interpersonal sensitivity and skills, and awareness of academic and future career opportunities. 

Counselors are student advocates.  They can help to:

• resolve scheduling conflicts or problems

• review transcript information

• make the correct subject choices

• assist in creating stronger teacher-student relationships

• listen to your personal concerns or problems

• provide college information

• guide students to available college scholarships and financial aid

• provide career choice opportunities

• give information about community resources to address concerns

Students and their parents are encouraged to talk with their school counselor about school-related issues, academic concerns, course offerings, school programs, testing requirements, graduation requirements, graduation plans, and the guidance curriculum. 

Dr. Emily Stuessy
Director
E-mail Emily Stuessy

Brenda Castillo
Secretary
915-230-2381
E-mail Brenda Castillo

1100 N. Stanton St.
El Paso, TX 79902

Vision

From a foundation of genuine, unconditional, and positive regard, we will treat, serve, and respect all students solely by name and individual need.

Mission Statement

The mission of EPISD’s counseling program is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program addressing the academic, career and personal/social development of all students. Professional School Counselors, in partnership with other educators, parents or guardians, and the community ensure that all students have access to and are prepared with the knowledge and skills to contribute at the highest level as productive members of society.

Philosophy Statement

Guiding Principles

EPISD professional school counselors believe:

• All students have innate value, dignity, and worth.

• All students’ ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual differences, and special needs are valued and considered in planning and implementing the school counseling program.

• All students need a variety of experiences to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.

• All students will be given the opportunity to develop effective coping skills.

• All students will have the right to participate in an ethically sound school counseling program managed by a Master’s level, Texas state certified professional school counselor.

EPISD is proud to offer a variety of excellent learning pathways in our high schools. Even if it is outside of their designated school attendance zone, students can select the program with the educational path that is the best fit for them.

During the fall semester, counselors will introduce the many academic programs available in high school to their middle school students. There is a program of study for every interest, from business and education to various STEM-focused courses and more. Counselors review these options as students prepare for their high school transition. These include career-specific programs of study and courses for college credit, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual credit, and dual enrollment. At every high school, students can earn an associate degree or industry certification along with their high school diploma. 

High school program representatives will visit middle schools or host informational nights each fall to showcase these programs. Check with your student's counselor for dates and times.

Middle school students and their parents are encouraged to explore the high school programs below to learn more about the offerings at each campus. 

Talk to your counselor about your options after high school graduation. They can assist your parents, and you with college and university information. Working with your counselor will help you be better prepared as you plan for college.

Professional school counselors can help you with:

• Career Explorations

• College Admission Assistance 

• College Applications

• Financial Aid Information

• Scholarships

• SAT/ACT Registration

ACT 

An independent, not-for-profit organization which provides assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development.

Achieve Texas 

A new education initiative designed to prepare all students for a lifetime of success. It allows ALL students to achieve excellence by preparing them for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work, and active citizenship.

Adventures in Education 

A nonprofit, public benefit program developed that helps students plan and complete their journey through higher education. By providing a web site and other free resources to students, parents, counselors, and educators, AIE encourages individuals to discover and pursue educational opportunities.

Apply Texas 

Provides a centralized location for both Texas and non-Texas students to apply to the many outstanding postsecondary institutions available in Texas.

Career, Technical & Workforce Education In Texas 

Texas career and technical education is offered through a variety of venues including public high schools, community colleges, technical colleges and work force training programs.

College Board 

A not-for-profit membership association designed to connect students to college success and opportunity. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®).

College.Gov 

Education can make a difference in one's life. It can open doors of opportunity, financially and personally. Find out what going can mean for you.

College for all Texans 

Here is everything a Texan needs to know about preparing for, applying for and paying for college or technical school.

College Forward 

College Forward provides college preparatory services to motivated, economically-disadvantaged students, in order to facilitate their transition to college and make the process exciting and rewarding.

Community Colleges 

U.S. community college tuition and fees are approximately 50% lower than those at 4-year colleges and universities. If you intend to pursue a bachelor's degree, you can lower the total cost of earning your degree by taking the first 2 years of a university program at a community college. Most U.S. community colleges have “articulation” agreements with 4-year colleges and universities to allow students to transfer their community college credits to a bachelor's degree program. State universities often guarantee entry as a third-year student if the student has completed all course requirements for the first 2 years of study

Every Chance, Every Texan 

The Every Chance, Every Texan Web site provides Texans with key information to plan and pay for college. Use our tools and resources to identify potential careers, help sort out the many options to pay for college, plus access information about scholarships, grants

and student loans.

NCAA 

The NCAA is committed to the quality education of student-athletes. That commitment is expressed through efforts to improve student-athlete academic success, strengthen campus responsibility and increase overall accountability. They oversee Division I, II & III Programs.

Office of Apprenticeship

The Office of Apprenticeship, is responsible for developing materials and conducting a program of public awareness to secure the adoption of training in skilled occupations and related training policies and practices used by employers, unions, and other organizations; developing policies and plans to enhance opportunities for minority and female participation in skilled training; and coordinating the effective use of Federal, labor, and resources to create a clear training-to-employment corridor for customers of the workforce development system.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 

The THECB was created by the Texas Legislature in 1965 to "provide leadership and coordination for the Texas higher education system to achieve excellence for the college education of Texas students."

Texas Scholars 

Texas Scholars — High School and Beyond is an initiative of Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC). It is

an community-based initiative through which volunteers and educators working together motivate students to take a more purposeful approach in high school, and to plan for and work toward a career of their choosing after high school.

University and College Accountability (U-CAN) 

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) has developed U-CAN (the University and College Accountability Network), a free, consumer-informed college information Web site. For the first time, institutions of higher education have come together to develop and deliver key college information directly to consumers.

EPISD is not responsible for the content on external sites or servers.

Links

• College Board

• College for Texans

Are you looking for community resources to support your child or family?  We are here to help with your child's academic and emotional success.  We have provided some links to community resources that may provide support for crisis situations, situational problems, chronic mental health and/or addiction issues.  

Counseling and Advising does not endorse community resource over another. Parents are encouraged to contact the community resource for the accuracy of services, contact information, or for additional questions. For some links, parents may have to search through the company/organization website directly.

Call our Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400 toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide or report with our secure website and get a response within 24 hours.

Links

Texas Abuse Hotline

Okay to Say was launched by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and its partners to increase awareness that most mental illnesses are treatable and to offer messages of hope and recovery to Texans and their families. 

Links

Okay to Say

Emergence Healthcare Network

El Paso Emergence Health Network (EHN) and its dedicated staff are committed to assisting El Paso’s most vulnerable citizens, residents with either or both severe and persistent mental illness and/or intellectual/development disabilities and/or substance abuse issues. At EHN we work to help these individuals and their families find resources and treatments to help with their disorders/disabilities and become as independent as possible.

Crisis Hotline

Anyone can access the EHN Crisis Hotline any time of the day or night. The hotline is manned by qualified mental health professionals and backed up by on-call professionals who are available to the public 24/7/365. Crisis Hotline Specialists initially provide verbal crisis resolution when they receive a call. Crisis Specialists are trained through their education and training to assist in verbal de-escalation and link individuals who need help to local mental health resources in the community, such as Emergence Health Network’s Crisis Intake Unit and Extended Observation Unit.

• EHN Crisis Hotline: 915-779-1800

• Toll-Free Crisis Hotline: 1-877-562-6467

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the nation's largest non-profit dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.

Texas Suicide Hotline

Texas Department of State Health Services Suicide Prevention Resources 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals call 1-800-273-8255.

FinAid! 

FinAid was established in the fall of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools -- on or off the web.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school.

Links

FAFSA Nights

The Homeless Liaison is supported through the Texas Education for Homeless  Children and Youth Grant (TEHCY) and provides support and services to students and families that have been identified as homeless based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

Contact Us

Homeless Liaison
Olivia Narvaez, LBSW 
230-2381

Region 19 Education Service Center
Homeless Education Program / Programa de Educacion para los desamparados
915-780-5307

El Paso Coalition for the Homeless
915-843-2184
www.epchomeless.org

Street Outreach
915-562-4765 or 915-330-9513

Texas Homeless Education Office/Oficina Estatal de Deucacion para los desamparados
www.theotx.org

UTEP Foster Homeless Adoptive Resources
Sergio Contrerras 915-747-5290

This is not an all inclusive list, for further resources call Olivia Narvaez 915-230-2383

Project Vida

915-533-7057 ext. 204

Project Bravo

915-566-4100

The following are possible scholarship links for you to pursue. This list is not meant to be all inclusive of possible scholarship resources.

Please visit your high school counselor for the most up-to-date scholarship information.

The Counseling and Advising does not endorse one scholarship over another nor the accuracy of scholarship deadlines and/or requirements.

NOTE:

For some links, you may have to search through the company/organization website If you need additional assistance, please visit your high school counselor.

If you have additional questions, regarding a specific scholarship, you are also encouraged to contact the sponsoring organization.

·      ACET Scholarship

·      Adelante Scholarship

·      American Fire Sprinker Association

·      American Legion Scholarships Various deadlines 

·      Coca-Cola 

·      Dell Scholars Program Opens on November 1, 2017

·      Discover Card 

·      Don't Mess w/Texas HS Scholarships for High School Seniors

·      El Paso Aggie Mom's Club

·      El Paso Commission for Women Application has two parts: Application and Release of Information form

       Verify deadline at http://epcfw.org/el-paso-commission-for-women/about-1/

·      El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce  http://www.ephccef.org/

·      El Paso ISD Education Foundation

·      El Paso Social Network High School Scholarship Application (students attending Saint Edwards, UT-Austin, Southwestern, ACC, Huston-Tillotson)

·      FBI Citizen's Academy Alumni Association College Scholarship Award

·      GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

·      Hispanic Scholarship Fund 

·      KFC Foundation Various program deadlines

·      Kohl's Cares for Kids Scholarship

·      LULAC February 12, 2018 - March 31, 2018

·      LULAC LNSEC 

·      MAES Latinos in Science and Engineering Scholarship  

·      NAACP Scholarship

·      Natl Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation

·      Rio Grande Electric Co-Op Scholarship Deadline:  April 20, 2018

·      Simon Youth Foundation       

·      Society of Broadcast Engineers of El Paso Deadline: July 1, 2018

·      Society of Women Engineers March 1, 2018 - May 1, 2018

·      STARS Scholarship Fund

·      Terry Foundation Scholarship (University of Houston) 

·      Texas Armed Services Scholarship: Introduction - Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program

·      Texas Lyceum Leadership Awards

·      Texas Retired Teachers Foundation

·      Texas Tech University Scholarships

·      Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. Scholarship

·      The Braden Aboud Memorial Scholarship

·      THE DREAM.US

·      The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

·      Tylenol Scholarship

·      United Negro College Fund Scholarship 

·      University Interscholastic League

·      University of Texas - El Paso Scholarships

·      University Tutor Deadline is at the end of each month.

·      Veteran's of Foreign Wars Scholarships         

·      Wal Mart Foundation 

·      Women's Fund of El Paso

ASUS Scholarship Program

College for Texans

Fastweb

Post Secondary Education Funding - Additional Scholarship Resources

Post-Secondary Planning Student Guide

Scholarship Listing

Scholarships.com

http://globalsolutions.org/multimediahttp://www.affordablecolleges.com/resources/scholarships-for-minorities/#african-american-studentshttp://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/http://www.epcc.edu/FinancialAid/Pages/Scholarships.aspxhttp://www.scholarships4students.com/scholarships_for_high_school_students.htmScholarships for MinoritiesScholarships for Women in STEM Visit the website for 14 different scholarships.  UTEP Scholarships www.dar.orgwww.elks.org/enf/scholarswww.scholarshipexperts.comwww.texasscholaraward.comwww.tmacares.comwww.uiw.edu/cardinalcalculatorwww.uta.edu/scholarshipswww.vfw.orgwww.wendysheisman.com

Links

• College for Texans

• Fastweb

• Scholarships.com