VMS Counseling Department

Counseling Office Staff

Our School Counselors

Megahn Byrd has been a School Counselor since 2007 and it is her passion!  She has enjoyed a career working alongside children since 2000 in afterschool-based programs while attending college, Juvenile Justice, teaching Special Education, as well as working for Parent to Parent (a grant funded program for students and parents with special needs).  As a North Carolina native, she has a Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling with certifications in Addiction Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy from Appalachian State University.  Her Advanced Studies were completed at the European Graduate School in Saas Fee, Switzerland in Expressive Art Therapy, Communication, Collaboration, and Social Change.  Ms. Byrd is student focused and supports the three domains of School Counseling: Academic, Career, and Social Emotional.

Travis Maxwell has been teaching since 2003.  He came to VMS last year as an English teacher and has joined Ms. Byrd in the counseling office this year.  He has an MS in Counseling & Human Development from Radford University. Mr. Maxwell will also be focusing on the Career Cafe program. 

Our Goal

The mission of Virginia Middle School’s counseling program is to provide each student with the individualized resources necessary to promote social and personal growth, academic success, and career development through a comprehensive program that partners with teachers, parents and the community.

Services

  • Direct counseling services to students individually and in groups

  • Career exploration, guidance, and education

  • Consultation services to teachers

  • Education and support services to parents

  • Collaboration with school departments and/or outside agencies relating to school success.

  • Promoting school success by focusing on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy, personal and social development and career development.

Student and Family Resources

BVPS Parent Guidance - Mental Health and Wellness

Other Information for Students and Parents: 

  • VaView - Information about Careers, Contests, Colleges and much more

  • www.platform.majorclarity.org - Career site with career assessments and exploration and academic planning- Students can access the site through Clever to log in

  • www.i-am-the-one.com - Information about Middle School resources, how to prepare for college and life beyond high school

  • https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth- Information about National art and poetry contest for the National Career Development Association