Mental health is equally as important as physical health to us at Vaughn Elementary. We take a tiered approach to mental health support that is both proactive and respondent. Classroom guidance (Tier 1) is provided to each classroom monthly. Small group counseling and behavior support (Tier 2) is provided throughout the year based on teacher, administrative or parent referral and qualified need. Individual counseling (Tier 3) is provided at any time based on student need.

School-Based Therapy

At Vaughn, we also offer school-based therapy in which a local mental health agency provides individualized therapy to their clients (our students) based on referral.

The agencies that serve Vaughn Elementary are, in alphabetical order:

• Arisa Health/Ozark Guidance

• Community Service Inc.

• Eason Counseling Associates

Please reach out to one of our counselors if you would like a referral for school-based counseling services and they will assist you. 

Conscious Discipline: At Vaughn we incorporate Conscious Discipline practices throughout the whole school. Conscious Discipline is a social-emotional learning program. Designed by Dr. Becky Bailey, the program supports first teaching ourselves about self-control and self-regulation, and then teaching children. It helps us see how we respond to upset and understand our emotions, and how to regulate ourselves when we are triggered. In short, it teaches us how to be conscious as adults of what we are saying to children, and what behaviors we are modeling.

What is really wonderful is that it is an inside-out program – it teaches adults to manage their own upset, sadness, happiness, anger. Then, in turn, it teaches us how we can teach children the same thing. Then they too can manage their own upset when triggered and understand their own feelings.

Character Development

We currently use the Core Essential Values Program for our character education.  Each month the students are introduced to a new word and they build upon that vocabulary.  Parents are also provided information on how to incorporate the Core Values at home through our monthly newsletter.

Social & Emotional Learning

We provide social and emotional learning through our classroom guidance program according to our district Comprehensive Counseling Plan (*excerpt provided below). Additional lessons are provided based on our annual building needs assessment data.

*Annual Calendar Elementary Lessons