Student Support

Director of Learning Support
Prathima Mistry, Psy.D., LP

Upper School	Middle School	Lower School
Rob Messenger	Alaina Trivax	Tracy Busse
Bridget Long	Tara LaBarre	Julie Burns Ross

 

At A Glance, the Learning Support Team:

• Provides individualized academic support to students in PK-12 for specific skills, aligned with the curriculum, intended to increase academic engagement.
  • Lower School and Middle School focuses on those with documented diagnoses and struggling learners
  • Upper School focuses on all students, from struggling to advanced learners
• Collaborates with parents and faculty to provide support for learning differences and accommodations in PK-12
• Oversees Upper School Tutorial Assistance Program and Academic Enrichment Program
• Manages accommodations with ACT and College Board
• Manages Learning Support eligibility, including a World Language Waiver

The Learning Support Team collaborates with campus level:

• Administration (Director and Deans)
• Department Heads
• Mental Health Counselor(s)
• Nurse/Athletic Trainers
• College Counseling (Upper School only)

 

Mental Health Counseling Department Chair
Brandon Alford, LMSW, C-DBT (he/his)

Upper School (Grades 9 -12)	Middle School (Grades 4 - 8)	Lower School (PK - Grade 3)
Dana Randall, MA-Psychology, SSP, NCSP (she/her)	Brandon Alford LMSW,C-DBT (he/his)	Caitlin Quenneville LMSW (she/her)
Brittany Washington, MA, LLC (she/her)

 

The Detroit Country Day Mental Health Counselors promote Mens Sana In Corpore Sano through the support of the mind-body connection, and the importance of tending to emotional and physical well-being.  Mens Sana is Wise Mind, and mental health counseling services help students and stakeholders achieve Wise Mind through balance, happiness, and success. Mental Health Counselors engage student well-being proactively through the development and facilitation of student and faculty programming, training, and curriculum, as well as reactively through the provision of individual, group, and family services.

At A Glance, the Mental Health Counselors:

• Short-term counseling services for students and families
• Community-based referrals
• Crisis Support
• Psychoeducational support for students, families, and faculty/staff
• Faculty/advisor support and collaboration
• DCDS club/class support (SAGA, etc.)
• Classroom facilitation of mental health skills and content
• SEL curriculum development, training, and implementation

The Mental Health Counselors collaborate with campus level:

• Administration (Director and Deans)
• Department Heads
• Learning Support Team
• Nurse/Athletic Trainers
• College Counseling (Upper School only)

DCDS Nursing Team
 

Upper School	Middle School	Lower School
Tina Donigian RN, BSN	Kristin Ahrens DNP, RN, CPNP	Kathy Palanci RN, BS
cdonigian@dcds.edu	kahrens@dcds.edu	kpalanci@dcds.edu
		Gina Reintjes RN, BSN
		greintjes@dcds.edu

 

At A Glance, the Nursing Team:

• Provides daily health and wellness care to any students/staff/faculty needing assistance for an illness, injury, or chronic health diagnosis
• Dispenses medication to students as directed by the health care provider
• Provides faculty with information and education on student’s life threatening allergies and chronic conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, asthma)
• Acts as a resource for health information and works closely with health teachers
• Collaborates with parents and faculty to discuss student health during extended illness
• Collects and evaluates information regarding school wellness and works closely with the Oakland County Health Department
• Manages health policies as directed by the school administration

The Nursing team collaborates with campus level:

• Administration (director and deans)
• Department Heads
• Mental Health Counselors
• Learning support personnel
• Athletic trainers
• Food service manager
• Attendance office
• Faculty as needed