Gary Wood
Student Assistance Counselor

As the Student Assistance Counselor at Calhoun Middle School one of my main responsibilities is to help students make responsible decisions. To that end I work with all students on an evidence based curriculum entitled Project Alert and have added elements developed by Dr. Gilbert Botvin. Dr. Botvin’s curriculum is research based and has been proven effective in lowering a Middle Schools student’s chance of becoming involved in drugs, tobacco or alcohol by 87%.

Additionally, I have the privilege of seeing students who have the potential to be leaders at Calhoun and students who are having difficulty adjusting to school. I have a Masters Degree in Professional Counseling and hold the following: Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Prevention Specialist, Certified Teacher, and am National Counselor Certified. I work in private practice in the evenings.

The Calhoun Middle School counseling program proudly embraces our cultural diversity and supports these fundamental concepts of the IB MYP program:

The MYP Fundamental Concepts describe the learning environment in which the student is operating and provide schools with guidance on developing their school culture. Holistic Learning - the notion that all knowledge is interrelated and that the curriculum should cater to the development of the whole person. Intercultural Awareness - the notion that school communities should  encourage and promote international-mindedness by engaging with and exploring other cultures, a key feature of international education as reflected in the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. Communication - the notion that schools should encourage open and effective communication, important skills that contribute to international understanding as exemplified by the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.