Hello to all our Boone Bears and Bear families!

My name is Kelly Carroll and I am the counselor at Boone Elementary! YAY! I am so excited to start this new school year. 

Let me tell you a bit about myself. I attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania for both undergraduate and graduate school. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling. I have worked with all grade levels, from Pre-K to high school. I have been working at The University of Texas for the past four years. 

I am so excited to make a complete pivot and come back to my roots in elementary school!

I am originally from New Jersey, but have been living in Austin since 1999. I was an Army wife and so I understand the challenges facing the children of those in the Armed Forces and other students who have had to face changing school (once or more than once!)

I have three children of my own. My daughter is a senior at UT San Antonio and I have two boys at Bowie High School (sophomore and senior). If you go to a Varsity basketball game, my son is the 6’8” guy on the court! I also have the most adorable dog named Murphy, who has my heart. 

My great passion is writing and I have published two books with Simon and Schuster. If you are an avid reader, you can find them on the publisher’s website.

I can’t wait to work with all of your kiddos, whether it be sitting with them at lunch, teaching lessons to them with their whole class or working one-on-one with those who are struggling, whether it be with personal struggles or peer relationships.

It’s going to be a great year. I just know it!

I know we are facing the beginning of the school year and so I want to give you some TIPS to ease back-to-school anxiety that might be present in your household.

1. In the next week or two, start getting your children ready for the upcoming transition back to school by resuming school routines. Set an earlier bedtime and maybe pick out what your kid(s) will wear the next day. Perhaps do dinner at a set time and not just the grab-as-you-go meals we have gotten used to all summer!
2. See if you can arrange a few playdates for your child before August 14 (the first day back). Feeling connected to other students on the first day can improve the academic and emotional adjustment for students.
3. If your student has extreme anxiety over having to go into school without you, visit the school in the next few weeks to practice drop-off and pick-up. These can ease the news of those students who are especially anxious about walking in the school doors.
4. Create an award or prize activity your child could earn for separating calmly from you when they get to school
5. Make sure your child knows you understand their worries and that, like any other activity, starting school may be hard, but once he/she gets used to it, it will become fun and even easy!
6. Remind them that they will off on Labor Day, which is just three weeks away!!