Big Picture School Counseling Center
Welcome to the Big Picture School Counseling Center! These pages are intended to provide BPS students and families information regarding academics, college preparation, post-secondary options and community referrals. For further detail, please make an appointment with the School Counselor or Counseling Secretary using the contact information below.
Students: The counseling department has an open door policy for all students and encourage those visits before school, during lunch or after school. Student are also welcome to schedule an appointment and/or email staff at any time with questions or concerns.
Parents: Please make an appointment with your student’s school counselor to avoid scheduling conflicts and to ensure you will have the time you need to address your concerns, questions, etc. Please note unavoidable interruptions and emergencies may occur during your scheduled time, though every attempt will be made to avoid rescheduling your appointment.
Your Well-Being is Important to Us! For information and resources on self-care and where ask for help, go to BSD’s Mental Health Resources for Students and Families webpage.
| Name | Position | Phone | Work Days | |
| Jamie Ginter | MS School Counselor (Grades 6 – 8) | 425.456.7861 | ginterj@bsd405.org | Mon – Wed, Fri |
| Amy Stephens | HS School Counselor (Grades 9 – 12) | 425.456.7832 | stephensa@bsd405.org | Mon – Fri |
| Beth Zimmerman | Counseling Secretary | 425.456.7847 | zimmermanb@bsd405.org | Mon – Wed, Fri |
| Yira Espinal | School Psychologist | 425.456.7848 | espinaly@bsd405.org
|
Mon, Wed – Fri |
| Judy Hunsberger | Family Engagement Specialist for SHS & Big Picture Family Connections Center |
425.456.5679 | hunsbergerju@bsd405.org | Mon – Fri @ SHS |
| Megan Taddonio | MHAT (Mental Health Assistance Team) Counselor | 425.456.7841 | taddoniom@bsd405.org | Mon-Fri |
Please contact the 24 hour Crisis Line for immediate, free and confidential support:
- Call 866-4CRISIS (866-427-4747)
- Text START to 741741
- Go to CrisisConnections.org for more options
- If you are already connected with an outside counselor or therapist, please connect with them.
How can my student earn high school credit for a language they already know?
The nationally normed proficiency tests are used by businesses, government and the military for salary and job placement. They are most appropriate for older adolescents. Our current testing infrastructure is designed to test high school students, so middle school students are asked to wait until the fall of 9th grade to test. For more information, go to BSD World Language Credit Program.
How can a student earn high school credit for classes taken in middle school?
Yes. High school credit for designated middle school courses may be requested once the student is in high school by completing the form: Request for Credit for High School Courses Taken Prior to Entering High School. The BSD Middle School Course Catalog, which is available from the BSD homepage (search on “Course Catalog”) will identify which courses are offered for high school credit. This request can be made at any time up to the point that a student graduates from high school, though it is strongly recommended this request be made prior to the end of a student’s junior year. (Important Note: Once the grades are recorded on the high school transcript, the grade and credit cannot be removed and are included in the computation of the student’s GPA.) Additional questions? Please see your school counselor.
How can I change my schedule if I don’t like the classes I’ve been given?
During the first 10 days of each semester, if there is an error in your schedule (i.e. you are missing a core class, or you’ve been placed in the wrong level of a World Language course or you didn’t receive one of your choices or alternates for electives), please complete a Schedule Correction form, which can be found in the Counseling Center. Once you’ve completed the form, submit it to your School Counselor for review during the first week of the new semester. School Counselors will review the request and, if approved, changes will be made within the first 10 days of the new semester.
Can counselors make recommendations for private therapists, tutors, psychiatrists, etc?
BSD counselors are not permitted to make recommendations to individual providers due to liability concerns. However, we can refer families to one of the agencies with whom the district has an inter-agency agreement on file. For a complete list, please click on “Counseling Agencies with whom BSD Contracts” below.
Many agencies work with ALL families – i.e. private pay, insurance, low-cost and no-cost clients and all have the potential to see your student here at school if transportation is an issue for your family. To initiate counseling for your child, please contact the agency directly. If you are interested in having a therapist work with your child at school weekly, please let the agency know and they will contact the school counselor. If you still prefer to work with a provider who has their own private practice, you may also want to consider reaching out to other parents, your family physician, or check to see if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program.
- Police/Medical Emergencies – Dial 911 for assistance in an emergency situation.
- Child Protective Services (CPS) – Dial 800.609.8764 to report child abuse or neglect.
Click here for Community Resources:
- Parenting Classes
- Drug & Alcohol Treatment
- Anger Management Class
- Domestic Violence Programs
- Housing
- Food & Clothing
- Individual & Family Counseling
- Other Important Numbers
Click here for Counseling Agencies with an Interagency Agreement on file with BSD
- Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ARCS)
- Consejo
- Cowlitz Tribal Health Seattle
- Seamar
- Sound Mental Health
- Youth Eastside Services (YES)
Click here for King County Referral Resource Guide:
- List of phone numbers in an emergency or crisis
- Domestic Violence, Abuse and Sexual Assault Resources
- Treatment Resources
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Support Resources
- Self-Help Resources & Groups
- Other Resources
Click here for King County Domestic Violence Resources:
A complete directory of resources in King County (including those that do not specifically focus on domestic violence) can be found at www.crisisclinic.org or by calling 211. Compiled by the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
- Hotlines (King County and neighboring counties)
- Shelters & Hotel Vouchers (Confidential shelters and Non-Confidential shelters)
- Individual Advocacy and/or Counseling (may also have referrals to individual therapists)
- Support Groups (for women experiencing domestic violence)
- Legal Information & Advocacy (may also have referrals to attorneys)
- Children & Parenting
- Teen Dating Violence (Advocacy & Support, Prevention)