Counselors

K & 1 Counselor - Tressa Dodd

2 & 4 Counselor - Elizabeth Miller

3 & 5 Counselor - Heather Heigl

About Us

Meet Heather Heigl 

I have been a school counselor for 25 years, and this is my 9^th year at Duncan Creek. I enjoy working with students to help them discover their potential and plan for their future! I was born in New York and have also lived in North Carolina and Florida. My husband and I have been married for 25 years and we have two daughters. Melanie is a senior at Kennesaw State University studying Anthropology, and Chelsea is a senior at Mill Creek/dual enrollment at University of West Georgia. I also have 2 cats, Finn and Farah - I love cats! When I am not at school, I enjoy traveling, watching documentaries, baking and gardening. 

Meet Tressa Dodd

My name is Tressa Dodd.  I am the counselor for Kindergarten and First Grade students.  I have been a school counselor since 2012.  Before I became a school counselor, I taught elementary students for 16 years.  My passion is helping students learn and grow.  I was born in Athens, Georgia.  Go Dawgs!  My husband and I have three adult children and six grandchildren, who we think are precious.  When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family, boating, swimming, beach trips, and enjoying all the things in the sunshine. 

Counselors work with individual students as needed.

Possible topics include:

• Peer Relations
• Study Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Self-esteem
• Personal Safety
• Cooperation
• Bully Prevention
• Tolerance for Differences
• Career Awareness

Counselors are available to work with parents on the following topics and issues to help children to be more successful at school:

• Study Skills (Organization, testing taking tips, etc.)
• Family Changes (Moving, dealing with death, divorce, separation, etc.)
• Stress and Perfectionism
• Attendance
• Parenting
• Classroom behavior
• Peer Relations
• Responsibility

The student will:

1. Explain the importance of using listening skills at all times
2. Follow classroom rules and be able to explain what those rules mean
3. Follow spoken directions given in school
4. Cultivate school success by taking responsibility for actions (self-control)
5. Learn about various careers and occupations
6. Express feelings appropriately and recognize the connections between thoughts, feelings and actions
7. Develop positive attitudes towards self as a unique and worthy person
8. Identify and respect similarities and differences of others
9. Explore the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touches
10. Identify strategies for stopping inappropriate touches

The students will:

1. Acquire skills to improve learning
2. Use listening skills to follow oral and written directions
3. Accept mistakes as essential to the learning process
4. Learn when and how to ask for help with schoolwork
5. Demonstrate personal responsibility in following rules
6. Explore personal likes and dislikes as they relate to various careers and occupations
7. Demonstrate respect for oneself as well as others
8. Learn about ways to handle disagreements without fighting
9. Learn how to make and keep friends
10. Recognize the difference between the feelings associated with appropriate and inappropriate physical contact
11. Identify strategies for stopping inappropriate touches

The student will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and cooperatively with other students
2. Practice effective listening skills
3. Follow multi-step directions
4. Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning
5. Learn connections between education and possible careers and occupations
6. Learn appropriate decision-making skills
7. Understand the relationship between behaviors and consequences
8. Learn conflict resolution skills
9. Demonstrate ways to show respect for self, others and property
10. Recognize the difference between the feelings associated with appropriate and inappropriate physical contact
11. Examine and practice safety skills including preventing/stopping sexual abuse

The student will:

1. Develop skills to work independently
2. Explore effective test-taking strategies and stress management techniques
3. Follow both written and spoken directions
4. Practice goal setting, time management, and organizational skills
5. Understand the differences among various careers and occupations
6. Work cooperatively in small groups to solve problems
7. Apply effective problem-solving skills to make safe and healthy choices
8. Learn appropriate responses to bullying/harassment
9. Identify sources of positive and negative influences
10. Use effective communication skills
11. Develop a healthy self-concept by making positive choices
12. Examine and practice safety skills including preventing/stopping sexual abuse

The student will:

1. Identify personal strengths and weaknesses to positively influence school performance
2. Learn and apply test-taking strategies
3. Utilize organizational and time management skills to complete school assignments
4. Learn and apply goal-setting strategies
5. Explore how hobbies and personal interests relate to careers
6. Use conflict resolution skills to solve problems effectively
7. Learn how to prioritize time between work and leisure activities
8. Accept responsibility and understand consequences for personal choices
9. Learn effective strategies related to peer pressure
10. Identify strategies to cope effectively with personal and classroom difficulties
11. Recognize and appreciate differences in others
12. Summarize and practice safety skills including preventing and stopping sexual abuse

The student will:

1. Apply time management and organizational skills to enhance personal and academic success
2. Utilize study skills to help achieve goals and reduce test-taking anxiety
3. Learn strategies to successfully transition to middle school
4. Identify how hobbies and personal interests influence possible careers and occupations
5. Develop skills to locate information about possible careers and occupations
6. Demonstrate skills needed to cope with challenges in daily life
7. Demonstrate behaviors needed to interact with peers effectively
8. Demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differences in others
9. Demonstrate the use of effective communication skills
10. Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate school behaviors
11. Identify neglectful, physical and sexually abusive situations and strategies for getting help
12. Understand the relationship between effective work habits and the world of work