Taylor McDonnell keeps students’ social-emotional development in the forefront

Taylor McDonnell wishes she could have a wand to magically fix all the troubles her students face inside and outside Woodrow Wilson Elementary, but even so that doesn’t stop her from being their biggest champion that will work tirelessly to set them up for success academically, socially and, most important, emotionally.

As a school counselor, she wants to not only meet students’ needs for today but also support their social-emotional development so that they may navigate future challenges in a healthy way. Principal Todd Schuster describes McDonnell as a huge advocate for kids at Woodrow Wilson; she has a “students first” mentality.

“Oftentimes when someone has asked to me to meet with a student, it is most likely not their best day,” McDonnell said. “I hope to be that (champion and advocate) for those students. It can be anything from them struggling to focus in the classroom to they’ve had a major life situation.”

From fourth-grade drama to serious at-home issues, it is McDonnell’s job to help kids through these difficult experiences in their lives. It takes time, but for little ones that can be hard to grasp. One year from now can feel like an eternity. McDonnell encourages them to take it on a step at a time.

“They are little people, so breaking it up helps. Let’s get through today, then let’s get through this week and then this month,” McDonnell said. “…And a lot of it is setting up real expectations. Sometimes they are picturing it a lot scarier than it is, or they’re thinking about it as this big terrible thing when it doesn’t have to be.”

Getting to this point requires McDonnell to build strong bonds with students at every grade level in Woodrow Wilson, which is easy enough when her office is so close to the front entrance. Every morning her office is bombarded with kids popping in and out to say hello or get a quick hug on the way to class.

“It is nice because right away sometimes I can put out some flames before the day even starts, especially any bus issues,” McDonnell said. “I have a little kindergarten girl whose hair I do every morning. She sits in my red chair and we do her hair. We call it the McDonnell Hair Salon. It’s great!”

Several associates even start their day in McDonnell’s room waiting for students to come into the doors. It’s an overwhelmingly positive environment.

“I’ve even had teachers who have stopped down to ask me a question or say something and they’re like, ‘Oh! I didn’t know it was a party in here?’ I’m like, ‘Every morning. Every morning.’ So it is a lot of fun,” McDonnell said.

When McDonnell was a classroom teacher, the most gratifying moments were those times when a struggling student finally understood a subject or a lesson. Oftentimes, teachers call it the “aha moment” or the “lightbulb moment.” But as a counselor, the gratifying moments go beyond excelling in academics.

“Being a human is so much more than that,” she said.

McDonnell enjoys seeing kids start to fully realize themselves and create their own foundation for conflict resolution, their social-emotional wellbeing and their mental health. When she sees the skills she has been teaching cross out of her classroom, it fills her heart.

“When a student comes and tells me, ‘I was getting really frustrated with them and I just took a deep breath and walked away,’ I’m like ‘Ah! Thank you!’” she said. “It’s kind of like a lightbulb moment, but in a different way. They use the skills I’m teaching to try and be the best version of themselves.”

Wand or not, that’s magical.