Mrs. Alisha Morton

• Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Amberton University, Garland, Texas
• Undergraduate Degree in Family Resource Management and Consumer Studies from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
• Teaching Certifications in Special Education (EC-12) and ELA (4-8)
• Worked in the following school districts 
  • Garland ISD, Garland, TX 
  • Edgewood ISD, San Antonio, TX 
  • Longview ISD, Longview, TX

Mrs. Morton is now in her 10th year as a counselor in Garland.

Get to know your counselor

Your counselor is someone who you will want to get to know because she can assist you as you progress through elementary school. Make an appointment to see your counselor.

Alisha Morton

Phone: (972) 926-2580 Ext. 42755

What can my counselor do for me?

Counselors will help you by:

• reviewing your choice of subject during the registration period (February - April)
• providing study skills and academic information
• providing career and college information
• helping in teacher/student relationships
• helping cope with family issues
• listening to concerns about friends, etc.
• giving you information about life and decision-making skills
• referring you to people or places outside of school for help if necessary
• being your advocate – counselors are here for you!

Counselors for each campus are certified by the state of Texas in School Counseling, have a Master’s Degree, and previous teaching experience. Each elementary school has a guidance counselor to help ensure that adequate support for helping students to succeed and meet their goals is available.

Visit the district website for more information about the GISD Guidance & Counseling programs.

Childhood stress

As providers and caretakers, adults tend to view the world of children as happy and carefree. After all, kids don't have jobs to keep or bills to pay, so what could they possibly have to worry about?

Bullying

No student should be subjected to bullying or harassment that interferes with their ability to learn or their safety.

Visit the Bullying Prevention and Investigation page on the district website for more information and resources.

Anonymous Alerts®

You can use the Anonymous Alerts® webform or mobile app to quickly, easily and anonymously report bullying, cyberbullying and other sensitive topics to school officials.

Anonymous Alerts® is monitored by GISD Security 24-hours daily and should only be used for serious and urgent matters. In the event of an emergency or life-threatening event, always call 911.

Submit an Anonymous Alert®

Download the app

To place a report from a mobile device, first download the free Anonymous Alerts® app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store. Then open the app and enter activation code garlandisd.

Counselor's Corner 

Routh Roach Elementary 2022-2023 

Alisha Morton, Counselor

Counselor Mission Statement:  The mission of the Routh Roach Counseling Program is to provide a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate and proactive program addressing career development, social/emotional development and academic achievement.  The program will recognize the unique needs of students, encourage increased responsibility for their own academic growth, foster mutual respect for all and enhance a feeling of safety in the school environment.

 

Counselor Vision Statement: The vision statement of the Routh Roach Counseling Program is to provide a safe environment for students, encourage them to be productive citizens, global thinkers, lifelong learners and self-advocates.

 

Welcome Back!  I am excited to begin the new school year with our Routh Roach Wranglers!  I am excited to be back together as a school family so we can learn and grow together.  This year I want to focus on community building as this will help foster a climate and culture of kindness and caring. Students will be provided a comprehensive guidance program throughout the year as to teach valuable life skills. In addition to guidance lessons, SEL lessons will help build those skills to help students learn to make responsible decisions, be empathetic towards others, and manage their emotions, build healthy relationships and set and achieve positive goals. I will be engaging students weekly with a SEL lesson to help reinforce the initiatives here in GISD. My meeting times with the students are necessary and are considered another classroom environment so students are expected to follow the Routh Roach expectations for their time in the library. Please view the “Welcome Back” video and enjoy.

 

Social-emotional learning (SEL)-Social and emotional learning focuses on the development of important soft skills including understanding and managing emotions, setting and achieving positive goals, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining positive relationships and making responsible decisions. SEL is a priority as this support will help our students ease back into the school environment and will help foster a sense of community within the classroom and school environment.

Social-Emotional Learning Information Videos:

• What is social-emotional learning?
• Why social-emotional learning matters?
• 5-keys to social-emotional learning success

 

Social-emotional learning resources for the classroom:

• Social-emotional learning curriculum resources
• Community building
• Calming padlet
• Morning circles
• Mindful lessons
• Sanford harmony kits: kits available through Mrs. Morton's office
• Counselor’s Weekly SEL Lessons- I will be teaching a SEL lesson once weekly to each grade level.  These lessons will be scheduled during the time slot chosen by each grade level.

Grade Level	Day of the Week	Lesson Time
Kinder	Monday	8:15-8:30
First	Monday	2:45-3:00
Second	Tuesday	8:15-8:30
Third	Wednesday	9:10-9:25
Fourth	Thursday	8:15-8:30
Fifth	Thursday	8:45-9:00

(Guidance lessons):  Lessons will begin (August 30-June 2). Lessons will be 30 minutes and we will meet in the library. The lesson schedule will be adjusted as needed due to district/campus needs.

Guidance lesson schedule for 2022-23

• Orientation to the Counseling Program (August 30-September 2)

• Mental Health and Safety(Sept. 20-Sept. 23)

• Drug Education Prevention (October 25-October 28)

• Bullying/Cyberbullying Prevention (November 29-December 2)

• Conflict Resolution (January 24-January 27)

• College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) The district will have College Week September 14-18.

• Career Day (TBD) along with activities

• Elementary students will have supporting lessons based on campus needs.

Individual Counseling- Students can self-refer by asking the teacher to complete a referral form or asking to speak with me themselves.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7:50-4:00	7:50-4:00	7:50-4:00	7:50-4:00	7:50-4:00

**Please feel free to call or email with questions or concerns.**