Tosha Pearson, middle school counselor

Q: What did you do before you came to GCAA?

A: I was a child, youth, and family therapist.

Q: What does that entail?

A: Working with the students that need more one on one as opposed to the solution focused of a school counsellor. So I would have met with students regularly. So say you came in and you were dealing with anxiety or grief or suicidal ideation, we could meet once a week, we could meet more than once a week, we could meet every day. It would just depend on what was going on with you as opposed to you come see the counsellor, we talk for a bit, and I don’t see you after. When people come to me, it’s not a set schedule here. But in my private position, I had a set schedule of every day who I say consistently.

Q: What do you currently do as a Middle School Counselor?

A: Right now it’s been a lot of scheduling and meetings. I’ve met with some students that are dealing with different issues in their lives, and I’ve really just really been trying to get to know the school, the culture of the school, and the staff. I meet as many students as I can, but it seems like a lot of meetings and scheduling right now.

Q: Do you have any long term goals in your position?

A: I don’t know. I think right now, it’s to get better processes and systems in place, as it relates to how scheduling is done, and the courses that are offered at the middle school level. The scheduling process period. Just getting something in place that works better, that’s more efficient and more effective, so I don’t feel like I’m doing what I did this school year: With doing the same schedule over, three, four, five times, because I didn’t have all the information I needed on the front end. It’s very frustrating, especially for someone like me, because I’m very organized. So coming into a school that’s been here a while and in my opinion has been around long enough to have processes and systems in place. For them to not have them in place I’m like “Hm. This doesn’t make much sense.”

Q: What do you like most about this school?

A: Everyone I’ve interacted with so far at this school seems very warm and genuine. Everyone seems genuinely nice, and mostly everyone seems to genuinely enjoy doing what they do, as opposed to other schools where everyone is just kind of there to collect the paycheck. People here seem to really want to be here, and really want to make a difference.

Q: Is there anything you want people to know about you?

A: I don’t know, Chris. I don’t really want people to know anything about me. I’m a private person. Not secretive, I just really don’t talk about myself a whole lot. I’d rather not talk about myself 9 times out of 10. I guess if I stay focused on what it is as it relates to my professional life, I’m very passionate about the rights of children, young adults. About their education, and about their needs being met as it relates to their educational environment. I believe every child has the right to a great education. I believe every child has the right to be heard and to have their needs met. I believe in being fair and being just. So I think that would probably be what I really want people to know about me.