Meet Our School Counselors

As school counselors we are dedicated to helping students progress in their academic, personal/social, and career development. Counselors work with students in individual counseling, small group counseling, and classroom guidance.

We are also part of a much larger team helping to serve our students. These include the following: parents, teachers, administrators, social worker, psychologist, nurse, speech and vision therapist, special education coordinator, resource officer, and others. Counselors wear many hats. We do registration, coordinate school wide testing, and perform many other tasks. Most importantly, we are here to serve as student advocates.

Mrs. Susan Gillespie, Grades 5-8 Gold House Counselor
Susan Gillespie joined the J.T. Moore guidance staff in 2003/2004. She received a B.A. in English and a Masters Degree in Secondary Guidance & Counseling from the University of South Carolina. Her husband, Steve, works as a Marriage and Family Counselor at the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee. They have been married for 36 years and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Susan worked as school counselor in S.C for 10 years with 7th and 8th graders, doing individual counseling, small group counseling, and classroom guidance. She loves working with middle school students. Susan enjoys hiking, gardening, and theater. You may reach her at 298-8095 x 2042 or by e-mail at susan.gillespie@mnps.org

Ms. Margaret Nichols, Grades 5-8 Red House Counselor
The 2011-2012 marks Ms. Nichols first year at JT Moore Middle School.  In 1999, she received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Foreign Affairs and Spanish, with a concentration Latin American Studies.  After college, she moved to the Czech Republic where she taught English as a Second Language for several months.  Upon returning to the States, Ms. Nichols taught Spanish and Exploratory Languages at a middle school outside of Cleveland, Ohio, her hometown.  In 2004, she moved to Nashville to pursue a Masters degree in counseling and received a M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling, with a concentration in school counseling, from the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University in 2006.  While at Vanderbilt, Ms. Nichols received the Roger F. Aubrey Northstar Award for Excellence in Academics, Leadership, and Service and served on the executive council of the Chi Sigma Iota professional honor society.  She then started work as a school counselor at DuPont Tyler Middle School in Hermitage, TN, where she worked for five years before coming to JT Moore. You may reach her via email at margaret.nichols@mnps.org or by phone at 298-8095, extension 2043.

PARENT TIPS
STAY INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.   Many parents think that once their child is out of elementary school they no longer need to be involved in school. The middle school years is one of the most critical times for parental involvement. They need you! (Even though they pretend not to). Call the school to set up a conference if you have concerns. Keep up with what’s going on at J.T. Moore by visiting our new web site. Check homework daily. Some of our faculty have assignments on the web.

BE INVOLVED IN THEIR PERSONAL/SOCIAL LIFE.  Know where they are after school and get to know their friends. Monitor what they do and how they use the internet.

GIVE CHILDREN LOTS OF LOVE AND PRAISE. DISCIPLINE THEM WHEN NEEDED IN A FAIR, FIRM, AND CONSISTENT MANNER.  Take advantage of parenting workshops when offered. It’s hard parenting these days. It’s also hard being a kid these days.  Your interest and attention will build confidence and self-esteem in your child.

STUDENT TIPS
ATTEND SCHOOL.  Absences have a direct influence on grades. Be on time.

IMPROVE STUDY TIME.   Write assignments down. If you failed to get assignments, check with a buddy or Moore’s website. If possible select a place that is quiet and free from distractions. Try to study in this same spot each day. Work in short segments and take study breaks between segments. Continue for one hour or until work is complete. Keep materials organized.  Get a teachers or counselor to help you with organization.

READ ACTIVELY.   Think about material before reading.
Write down questions for understanding.
Look up words you do not know.
Comprehension is more important than speed.

WRITE CLEARLY

EAT HEALTHY.   A good breakfast is very important in having energy to think and work in class.
A good diet will boost brainpower and keep you healthy.