Mrs. Harper, Guidance Counselor

Phone: (352) 671-4725 extension 55425

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Mrs. Mary Harper

All 7th grade students and 6th grade boys

Mrs. Shepler, Guidance Counselor

Phone: (352) 671-4725 extension 55426

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Ms. Teresa Shepler

All 8gh grade students and 6th grade girls

Guidance and Counseling

  • GUIDANCE STAFF 

    Mr. Timothy Jones - Assistant Principal of Curriculum 

    Ms. Neciah Ann Tamika Bhalai - ESE Staffing Specialist

    Ms. Robin Wildy - Student Services Clerk 

    Ms. Mary Hall - Guidance/Attendance Clerk 

    Ms. Bonita Long- Guidance Clerk

    Ms. Katelyn Watrous - Information Processing Clerk

     

    Welcome to the Guidance Office! Our mission is to assist our students, their parents, and their teachers in facilitating Fort King Middle's mission statement and goals for each and every student.

     

    The school encourages parent-teacher conferences. Please contact the school Guidance office at 352-671-4728, fax: 352-671-4737, or email Sara Klarer (sara.klarer@marion.k12.fl.us) to set up a conference. 

    COUNSELORS' GOALS:

    • Help children understand themselves and others
    • Help to identify children with special needs
    • Provide crisis intervention
    • Develop plans to prevent academic/behavioral problems from developing
    • Provide Career Awareness programs
    • Coordinate the efforts of other professionals working for children
    • Provide orientation for children coming to Liberty for the first time
    • Promote positive attitudes toward persons of diverse cultural, racial, ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds

    GENERAL INFORMATION

    Also housed in the Guidance Office is the Guidance Clerk, Ms. Chappius. Some of her responsibilities include ESE and ESOL paperwork, student records and various other student services. She can assist with student registration and setup appointments for Parent-Teacher conferences.

     

    Registration: All new students must register in the Guidance Office. Our personnel are familiar with all the requirements and can help you with questions.

     

    Attendance: Parents are asked to call the Attendance Office when a child is absent. Read the Marion County Code of Student Conduct for specific State Statutes and consequences regarding absenteeism. However, upon return to school, a note is still required following each absence. This note is to be turned in to the Homeroom Teacher upon the student’s return to school. An admission slip will be issued which must be signed by all teachers and turned in to the student’s last teacher of the day. If the absence is due to a medical appointment, a note from the doctor or dentist should be presented. If the student fails to bring a note, the absence will be unexcused, as an admission slip will be issued for excused absences only. The student will be issued an admission slip only upon bringing a note. “Chronically absent from school” will be defined as five (5) unexcused absences or absences for which reasons are unknown within a calendar month or ten (10) unexcused absences within a ninety (90) calendar day period. Those students deemed chronically absent will not be allowed to attend field trips that are scheduled during that period without Administrative approval. The student will then be required to have a Doctor’s note upon their return to school.

     

    Excused Absences:

    • Illness (Doctors note required if student is continually sick and repeatedly absent.)
    • Death in family or illness in immediate family
    • Absence authorized in advance by school administration (form available in main office).
    • Medical appointments

     

    Signing Out Early: All students must be signed out through Attendance by a parent or legal guardian before leaving during school hours (I.D. REQUIRED). Students will not be allowed to check out from school with any person who is not on the contact list. Telephone calls and notes will not change this policy.

     

    Official Records: Your child's cumulative records are housed in the Guidance Office. If you need to review anything in the folder please call ahead and make an appointment for someone to go over the contents with you. If you need a copy of any document in your child's folder we can provide it for you. If you request copies, a charge will be assessed at 25 cents per copy. Again, please call ahead and we will try and have it ready for you or will send it home via your child. If you are transferring out of Fort King we will make sure all necessary documents are forwarded to your child's new school.

     

    *If you are a non-custodial parent who wishes to have copies of report cards, interim reports, and other routine school information, please come to the guidance office. You will be required to provide self-addressed, stamped envelopes for this.