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School Counseling

School Counseling | Phoenix Central School District
In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988, any time, day or night. Additional Supports & Information
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Phoenix CSD School Counseling

Every Student. Every Future. Every Firebird.

At Phoenix Central School District, our school counselors help students navigate their educational journey, discover their strengths, develop meaningful relationships, and prepare for what comes next. We partner with students, families, and educators to support academic success, personal growth, and future readiness.

A parent and child smile for a photo during the MAM open house.
Behind every thriving student is a strong team. It was great to see families and their students stop by to connect with our team at MAM Open House!

Families ask us…

Meet Our School Counseling Team

Find your child’s school counselor

Every Phoenix student, kindergarten through grade 12, has a certified school counselor. Choose your child’s school below. Middle and high school counselors are assigned by the first letter of the student’s last name.

Grades Pre-K–4

Michael A. Maroun Elementary School

11 Elm Street, Phoenix, NY 13135

Our focus: building foundational skills, developing positive relationships, supporting transitions, encouraging attendance, and helping students develop confidence and healthy social-emotional skills.

Photo of Nicole Granteed

Nicole Granteed

School Counselor · All MAM students

Also on the MAM support team

To request a meeting or support

Call the MAM main office at (315) 695-1561. Students can ask their teacher to help them connect with the counselor.

Call the MAM Main Office

Grades 5–8

Emerson J. Dillon Middle School

116 Volney Street, Phoenix, NY 13135

Our focus: navigating adolescence, academic development, organization, relationships, personal responsibility, self-awareness, and beginning career exploration.

Photo of Andrew Quirk

Andrew Quirk

School Counselor · Students with last names A–K

Photo of Katherine Barber

Katherine Barber

School Counselor · Students with last names L–Z

Also on the EJD support team

  • Jillian Lunn, School Psychologist
  • Kayleigh Abbott, School Social Worker
  • Christi Sharkey, Counseling Office Typist

Guidance Office: (315) 695-1522 · Fax (315) 646-1579

To request a meeting or support

Call the EJD counseling office at (315) 695-1522 and ask for your child’s counselor. Students can ask any teacher to help them connect with their counselor.

Call the EJD Counseling Office

Grades 9–12

John C. Birdlebough High School

552 Main Street, Phoenix, NY 13135

Our focus: academic planning, graduation requirements, Regents examinations, college preparation, career exploration, financial aid, postsecondary planning, and transitions beyond high school.

Photo of Breanna Griswold

Breanna Griswold

School Counselor · Students with last names A–I

Photo of Megan Ransiear

Megan Ransiear

School Counselor · Students with last names J–Z

Also on the JCB support team

  • Alanna McKinney, School Psychologist
  • Anne-Marie Muller, Social Worker
  • Michelle Scruton, Guidance Office

Guidance Office: (315) 695-1645 · Fax (315) 954-1169

To request a meeting or support

Call the Guidance Office at (315) 695-1645 to schedule with your counselor. Students can stop by the Guidance Office or ask any teacher for help connecting.

Call the JCB Guidance Office

Need help in another language?  District messages sent through ParentSquare can be displayed in your preferred language.

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How School Counselors Support Students

Three areas, one goal: helping every student thrive

Our program is grounded in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and New York State’s requirements for a comprehensive K–12 school counseling program.

Academic Development

We help students:

  • Develop effective learning and study habits.
  • Build organization and time-management skills.
  • Navigate academic challenges.
  • Set meaningful academic goals.
  • Understand academic progress and available supports.
  • Plan for successful transitions between grade levels.

Social-Emotional Development

We help students:

  • Develop self-awareness and confidence.
  • Build positive relationships.
  • Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Navigate friendships and social challenges.
  • Develop strategies for managing emotions and stress.
  • Access additional support when needed.

College & Career Readiness

We help students:

  • Discover personal interests and strengths.
  • Explore career pathways and opportunities.
  • Understand educational pathways after high school.
  • Develop academic and career plans.
  • Explore college, technical training, and workforce opportunities.
  • Prepare for life beyond graduation.

A comprehensive program, K–12

  • Every student, every year

    New York requires every district to offer a comprehensive developmental school counseling program for all students in kindergarten through grade 12, with access to a certified school counselor.

  • Grades K–4

    Counselors design the program with classroom teachers, so skills like friendship, self-control, and goal-setting are part of everyday learning.

  • Grades 5–12

    Each year, a certified school counselor reviews each student’s academic progress and career plans.

What school counselors are, and aren’t. School counselors provide short-term counseling, crisis support, and referrals. They do not diagnose conditions or provide long-term therapy. When a student needs more, your counselor can connect your family with school psychologists, social workers, and community mental health providers.

Read our Phoenix CSD K–12 School Counseling Plan (PDF) (opens in a new tab).

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When Should Families Contact a School Counselor?

We’re Here to Help. When Should You Reach Out?

  • You have questions about academic planning or graduation requirements.
  • Your child is experiencing friendship or peer relationship challenges.
  • You are unsure where to turn for additional support.
  • Your child is having difficulty adjusting to a new grade or school.
  • Your child is experiencing anxiety about school or academic expectations.
  • Your child is struggling academically.
  • Your child needs assistance exploring college or career opportunities.
  • You are concerned about attendance or school engagement.
  • You notice changes in behavior, mood, or engagement.

You do not need to wait until a concern becomes a major problem to contact your child’s school counselor. We encourage families to reach out early. Working together allows us to better understand a student’s needs and identify appropriate supports.

Routine, urgent, or emergency? Here’s who to contact.

Routine questions

Contact your school counselor

Grades, schedules, friendships, planning, or a concern you’d like to talk through.

Call during the school day.

Find your counselor

Urgent, during school hours

Call the school right away

If you are worried about your child’s safety or well-being today, call your child’s school and ask to speak with a counselor or administrator immediately.

Please don’t use voicemail or ParentSquare for urgent concerns. They are not monitored around the clock.

Emergency or crisis, any time

Call 911

If someone is in immediate danger.

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Student & Family Resource Center

Trusted resources, organized for you

Each resource includes what it offers and who it helps. Not sure where to start? Your school counselor can point you in the right direction.

Academic Resources

Social-Emotional Resources

College & Career Resources

Family Resources

  • When to contact a counselor

    Signs to watch for and how to reach the right person.

    For: all families
  • How to request assistance

    Counselor contacts and meeting requests for each school.

    For: all families
  • Food, housing, and basic needs

    Food pantry hours, Oswego County DSS, OCO, Catholic Charities, and 211.

    For: families who need help with essentials
  • ParentSquare (opens in a new tab)

    District and school messages, available in your preferred language.

    For: all families
  • School transitions guide Coming soon

    Moving from MAM to EJD, or EJD to JCB: what to expect and how to prepare.

    For: families of students in grades 4 and 8

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College, Career & Future Readiness

Discover Your Strengths. Explore Your Possibilities. Plan Your Future.

From career interest surveys in middle school to applications in senior year, counselors help every Firebird find a path that fits.

The Firebird Framework

Through the Firebird Framework, Phoenix students identify their strengths, demonstrate what they know and can do, and prepare for their next steps. It connects with New York’s Portrait of a Graduate, which asks every student to be “reflective and future focused.”

  • College & University

    Four-year colleges, SUNY campuses, and community colleges, plus admissions, visits, and applications.

    College planning at JCB

  • Career & Technical Education

    CiTi BOCES offers half-day career programs for juniors and seniors, from culinary arts to welding to nursing assistance, with credit toward graduation.

    Explore CiTi programs (opens in a new tab)

  • Workforce & Apprenticeships

    Skilled trades, union apprenticeships, and on-the-job training lead to good careers right after graduation.

    Skilled trade apprenticeships

  • Military

    Service branches, ROTC, and service academies, including how service can help pay for education.

    Military service options

  • Paying for What’s Next

    FAFSA, TAP, and scholarships. JCB hosts a Financial Aid Night for seniors and families each year.

    Financial aid at JCB

  • Career Exploration

    Interest inventories, career clusters, job shadowing, and summer programs help students try on possibilities.

    Start with CareerZone (opens in a new tab)

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For JCB Students & Families

Important information for high school

A year-by-year guide to planning at John C. Birdlebough High School.

  1. Grade 9

    Build a strong start

    • Meet your counselor and review your four-year plan.
    • Learn how credits and graduation requirements work.
    • Get involved in clubs, sports, or the arts.

  2. Grade 10

    Explore

    • Take a career interest survey on CareerZone.
    • Learn about CiTi BOCES programs for junior year.
    • Choose courses that match your goals.

  3. Grade 11

    Prepare

    • Take the PSAT in October.
    • Take the SAT or ACT in the spring, if your plans call for it.
    • Visit colleges and research careers.
    • Create your FSA ID for the FAFSA.

  4. Grade 12

    Launch

    • Finish college, training, or job applications.
    • File the FAFSA and TAP; attend Financial Aid Night.
    • Apply for scholarships.
    • Request transcripts and finalize your plan.

Graduation requirements

New York’s graduation rules are changing

Through NY Inspires, New York is moving to one high school diploma, and Regents exams are being phased out as a graduation requirement beginning in the 2027–28 school year. What your student needs depends on the year they entered ninth grade. Your school counselor can review your student’s exact requirements with you.

NYSED: NY Inspires updates (opens in a new tab) Ask your counselor
Who do I ask?
QuestionWho to contact
Course selection, schedules, and academic planningYour school counselor · (315) 695-1645
Graduation requirements and Regents examsYour school counselor
College applications, recommendations, and visitsYour school counselor
SAT/ACT registration and fee waiversYour school counselor. JCB school (CEEB) code: 334510. Testing details
FAFSA, financial aid, and scholarshipsYour school counselor. Financial aid page
CiTi BOCES career and technical programsYour school counselor
Transcripts and academic recordsGuidance Office, Michelle Scruton · (315) 695-1645. How to request
Special education or 504 recordsPupil Personnel Department · (315) 695-1648
Bullying, harassment, or discriminationJCB Dignity Act Coordinator, Patrick Fitch · (315) 695-1631
Attendance, absences, and early dismissalJCB Main Office · (315) 695-1631

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers for families

How do I find my child’s school counselor?

Go to Find Your School Counselor and choose your child’s school. At MAM, one counselor works with all students. At EJD and JCB, counselors are assigned by the first letter of your child’s last name.

How do I schedule a meeting with a counselor?

Call your child’s counselor or the school’s counseling office. Let us know your concern and a few times that work for you, and we’ll set up a meeting in person or by phone.

Can parents contact school counselors directly?

Yes. Counselors welcome calls from parents and guardians. You don’t need a referral or a reason that seems “big enough.”

What types of concerns can school counselors help with?

Academics, study habits, friendships, stress and emotions, family changes, attendance, transitions, and college and career planning. If a concern needs more support, counselors connect families with school and community resources.

What if my child is struggling academically?

Start with your child’s teacher, then reach out to the counselor. Together we can look at what’s getting in the way and connect your child with extra help, study strategies, or academic intervention services.

What if my child is experiencing social or emotional difficulties?

Contact your child’s counselor. Counselors provide short-term support at school, help students build coping skills, and work with school psychologists and social workers when more help is needed.

How do students access mental health support?

Students or families can reach out to the school counselor, psychologist, or social worker. School staff can provide short-term support and refer families to community mental health providers, such as outpatient services through Liberty Resources. School counselors do not provide long-term therapy.

Where can I find graduation requirements?

New York’s requirements are changing through NY Inspires, and they depend on the year your student entered ninth grade. See Important information for high school, and ask your counselor to review your student’s plan.

When should high school students begin planning for college?

In ninth grade. Grades, courses, and activities all count from freshman year. Planning gets more focused in grades 11 and 12 with testing, college visits, applications, and financial aid. See the year-by-year guide.

What should I do if I have an urgent concern about my child?

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988 any time. During school hours, call your child’s school and ask to speak with a counselor or administrator right away. Please don’t rely on voicemail or ParentSquare messages for urgent concerns. See all urgent help options.

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Ready to take the next step?

Privacy and accessibility

Privacy: Please don’t share private student information through this website or ParentSquare messages. Messages to counselors are not monitored around the clock. For urgent concerns, call the school or use the emergency options above.

Accessibility: If you have trouble using any part of this page or need it in another format, call the District Office at (315) 695-1573 or see our Website Accessibility page.