Counseling
Meet Your Counselors
Students are assigned a counselor based on their last names.
Student last name
A-L

Counselor
Dawn Mathews
I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Concordia University in Portland and my Master’s of Science in Counseling from Portland State University. I have worked for the school district as a counselor since 2005 as an elementary school counselor and moved to the middle school level at Parrish Middle School in 2023. I have worked in the Parrish feeder system since 2013, and I love the families and community that surround Parrish. I absolutely love working with middle school students during this unique period of development. Using humor, empathy, goal setting, and of course our facility dog Sage, I support and connect with students to problem solve and focus on all aspects of their growth.
Student last name
M-Z

Counselor
Alex Brink
I attended the University of Oregon and obtained my M.Ed in School Counseling from Lewis and Clark College. I have worked as a counselor in the district since 2013 and joined the Parrish community in 2018. I love working with students and watching them grow and overcome the obstacles of middle school. I support Parrish students by connecting through music and humor as well as problem solving school and life challenges.
Social Workers
What do School Social Workers do?
School social workers support students by addressing emotional, social, and behavioral challenges that impact their academic success. They serve as a liaison between families, the school, and community agencies, connecting students to resources and services that promote well-being. Additionally, they collaborate with educators and parents to provide clinical case management, crisis intervention, and advocacy to ensure students thrive both in and outside the classroom.
¿Qué Hacen los Trabajadores Sociales Escolares?
Los trabajadores sociales escolares apoyan a los estudiantes abordando los desafíos emocionales, sociales y conductuales que afectan su éxito académico. Actúan como enlace entre las familias, la escuela y las agencias comunitarias, conectando a los estudiantes con recursos y servicios que promueven el bienestar. Además, colaboran con educadores y padres para brindar gestión de casos clínicos, intervención en crisis y defensa para asegurar el desarrollo integral de los estudiantes tanto dentro como fuera del aula.
School Social Worker

Christian Sanders,
LCSW CADC1
Master's in Social Work - Portland State University
Also supports Hoover, Highland, Englewood, and Grant Elementary Schools.
School Social Worker

Amalia Marquez,
LCSW
Master's in Social Work - San Jose University
Bilingual Social Worker. Also supports South and McKay High Schools, Parrish and Leslie Middle School, Englewood, Hoover, Grant, Bush, McKinley, Morningside, Richmond, and Candelaria Elementary Schools.
What do counselors do?

Just what do school counselors do and how can they help your student?
The counseling department at Parrish Middle School emphasizes the development of healthy psycho-social and inter-personal skills. With the acquisition of these skills students will be better prepared to make healthy decisions and take well informed actions on matters concerning academic, vocational, and personal matters.
Our goal is for our students to become literate in all aspects of their education. More specifically, having this ability will aid the student in the future to obtain, interpret, and understand health and career information provided to them for enhancing purpose.
School Counselors
Our team of Counselors, School Social Worker, CSOC, and mental health professionals are committed to supporting families and students in areas of enrollment, academic planning, college/career planning, accessing community resources, and crisis support. All students are assigned a school counselor by the student's last name.
All school counselors:
- Counsel students individually or in group settings.
- Counsel students on career planning and goals.
- Develop a guidance plan based on campus needs.
- Respond to student needs in crisis situations.
- Orient students to new school settings.
- Work with absentees and at-risk students.
- Refer students to special programs and/or services when necessary.
- Conduct conferences with parents and teachers.
- Analyze test results to provide information about abilities and achievement.
School counselors also perform additional duties and are always available to assist students and families in a variety of ways. Please feel free to contact your student’s counselor today to find out how they can best assist your student in their educational needs.
Basic Skills
Basic Skills for Student Success
- Be here!
- Be at school every day and on time to every class.
- If you are absent, be sure to check with the teacher to get any assignments you may have missed.
- Organizational
- Cornell notes
- Binder
- Have what you need.
- Keep things neat & organized.
- Time management
- Prioritize education first. Work hard, then have fun guilt free.
- Establish specific times each day to do homework/ study and read (7days a week).
- Read at least 30 minutes every day.
- Using your planner
- What are you doing in class?
- What homework was assigned?
- Note due dates.
- Note due date reminders.
- Students monitoring their own progress
- Know how you are doing in each class.
- Check with your teacher or online to find out your grades and whether or not you are missing any assignments
- Be prepared
- Know what supplies are needed is every class
- Have supplies ready for each class

How can we help?
SafeOregon Tipline – Feel Safe. Be Safe.