Becoming the Mental Health Leaders Schools Need 

Online M.Ed. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on School Counseling

Every student deserves someone in their corner to thrive academically and personally. Access to mental health, consultation and leadership services in schools can help make that possible, but those services can be scarce in some areas. “In parts of rural Texas, one school counselor serves as many as 900 students. The recommended ratio is 250-300,” Dr. Anita McCormick of our Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY) said. “The gap leaves teachers and other school personnel assessing crises and supporting students’ mental health without specialized training.”

Our online Master of Education in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in School Counseling looks to bridge that gap. McCormick manages the program in EPSY, which prepares certified K-12 teachers to step into counselor roles so their services can be available to more Texas students.

The two-year program is fully online and includes a 400-hour practicum, along with the opportunity to work with a school counselor supervisor. It also supports teachers who want to be school counselors and stay in their communities. So far, the program boasts a 100% job placement rate and a 90% first attempt pass rate on the state exam.

Amy Simpson received the 2022 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) Award, the first time Copperas Cove ISD earned this honor.

For Amy Simpson ’20, the program helped her pursue her passion to make an impact on students and school communities. Early in her career as an elementary music teacher, Simpson enjoyed seeing every child and building relationships beyond the classroom. “I knew I wanted to do more,” she recalled moments when students needed a trusted adult to listen and guide them.

Simpson took opportunities to advocate for students and other school counselors that led her to our school counseling master’s program. As a single mom of four kids, she knew it would be challenging to attend classes on campus and complete the coursework in an effective way. “The online program gave me a chance to balance being a mom, teacher and student,” Simpson shared. “Our online group developed into a community, offering support to each other and feeling connected in ways that we might not have experienced in-person.”

Simpson was also encouraged by our College’s faculty and staff members along the way. She notes that McCormick’s guidance made a difference in the classroom. “I connected with Dr. McCormick’s teaching and mentoring ways,” Simpson said. “She showed interest and compassion and always offered the best feedback.”

Simpson completed her practicum at House Creek Elementary in Copperas Cove, where she observed counseling, co-taught guidance lessons and led individual and small-group sessions from kindergarten through fifth grade. “The practicum is the hands-on experience that lets you apply strategies and theories with students,” she explained. “I quickly learned to monitor and adjust so I could be flexible and patient in meeting students’ needs.”

After graduation, Simpson stepped into a school counselor role. Today, she serves as Director of Counseling and Student Support for Copperas Cove ISD, extending those systems of care districtwide. “The incredible faculty, staff and peers from my classes and practicum have shaped me to become the kind of school counselor I wish I had while growing up,” she said.

Simpson is now pursuing additional licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). “I’m striving to build a positive culture to provide students a safe space to make mistakes, celebrate successes and teach the skills to be confident and proud of themselves.”

McCormick hopes more students will join the program and make a difference in less populated areas of Texas. “The state has a dire need for mental health service providers, and schools are no exception,” she said. “School counselors can make the difference in a child’s life and help them not just survive but thrive.”

To learn more about our online counseling master’s program, click on the following link. tx.ag/MEdSC.

For media inquiries, contact Ruben Hidalgo.