School Support Team
Learn about how we support students' social emotional learning and mental health
School Counselor
Sara Weiss-Cowie is our elementary school counselor. Her primary objective is to assist students in reaching their potential to become effective learners. She complements the learning environment in the classroom by using a child-centered, preventative, and developmental approach.
School counseling can be conducted with students individually and in small groups, when determined appropriate by our school team through the use of multiple data points. This service is brief, voluntary, and confidential. Topics of small groups that might occur include how to maintain friendships, strategies for managing stress at school and regulating emotions in productive ways. Parent notification is given to any extended individual or group counseling. Ms. Weiss-Cowie also teaches classroom school counseling lessons focusing on student success. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. When we work together, we can best meet our students' needs.
Sara Weiss-Cowie | School Counselor | [email protected] | 703-721-2122
School Psychology Services
School psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring the progress of students, and program evaluation. School psychologists apply this knowledge using a problem-solving approach to help bring about positive changes in the learning environment, attitude, and motivation. Services offered by the school psychologist may be provided directly to the student or indirectly by working with teachers, parents, and other care givers; however, all services provided by the school psychologist are intended to enhance the academic and social emotional success of students. Minimum requirements to be a school psychologist include a 60-hour master's degree program and a one-year full-time internship; many FCPS school psychologists hold doctoral degrees.
Kristyn DiCostanzo supports Mount Eagle as our school psychologist. She is present on our campus two days a week.
Social Work and Support Services
School social workers focus on family and community factors that influence learning. They provide intensive services for students facing issues that pose risks to their academic success such as parent divorce and separation, poverty, truancy, chronic illness, mental health problems, conduct problems, child abuse, etc.
All FCPS social workers hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of Social Science (MSS) degree; many have earned a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) degree. All school social workers are licensed by the Virginia Department of Education. The majority of the staff is clinically licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Social Work (LCSW) or in other jurisdictions and trained to provide mental health services in any setting.