Virginia Elementary School Counselor of the Year discusses summer supports and routines

Kara Hart, a 14-year elementary school counselor with Hampton City Schools and the 2025 Virginia Elementary School Counselor of the Year, described how modern school counseling centers on social-emotional learning, data-driven intervention and classroom instruction to keep students safe and ready to learn.

Hart, who has worked 12 years at Bridal Elementary and two years at Asbury Elementary, said counselors use discipline, attendance and academic data to identify needs and design monthly 45-minute classroom lessons and small-group interventions. "We use data to drive what we're doing," she said, adding that counselors take referrals from parents and staff and arrange outpatient therapy or assessments as needed.

Asked what the state recognition entails, Hart said she will be honored at the Virginia School Counselor Association conference in October. The association looks for comprehensive counseling programs aligned with American School Counselor Association standards, she said.

On summer routines, Hart told listeners that children often struggle when the structure of the school year is removed. "Humans naturally crave routine and stability," she said, explaining that loss of routine can trigger fight, flight or freeze responses. She recommended preserving reasonable bedtimes, regular meals and planned times for reading and free play to reduce anxiety and academic slide.

Hart offered practical signs for caregivers to watch for during the summer: increased irritability, withdrawal, sensory-seeking or sensory-avoidant behavior, and changes in sleep or appetite. She urged adults to notice "red flags" and to treat behaviors as signals of unmet needs rather than simply misbehavior.

The counselor emphasized teaching emotion language and coping strategies. She recommended modeling "I" messages (for example, "I feel frustrated when..."), introducing physical coping skills such as movement or yoga, and practicing calming routines so children can access those skills when stressed.

On digital habits, Hart advised delaying social media access for elementary-aged children, setting device boundaries tied to chores or reading, and using parental controls while maintaining active adult monitoring. "Turn devices off at a certain time," she said, noting that screen use close to bedtime can impair sleep.

To ease the transition back to school, Hart suggested gradually moving bedtimes earlier in 15-minute increments about two weeks before school starts, maintaining daily reading, practicing coping skills, and attending open house events so children and families know classroom expectations.

As a closing message to caregivers, Hart said: "The days are long, but the years are short," and urged adults to practice self-care so they can model healthy coping for children.

The conversation aired as the season three finale of HCS Talks, the official Hampton City Schools podcast. New episodes of HCS Talks drop on Thursdays.