Getting to Know an Outstanding School Counselor from Pickard Elementary School

Ms. Elizabeth Hillyer has been with CPS for 13 years, and all 13 of those years have been at Pickard Elementary School. Before joining the District, she worked with non-profit organizations that helped children and families through traumatic situations. Her work already involved visiting school often, so working at a school seemed like a natural next step. 

She loves working at Pickard because she feels extremely accessible to students and the larger school community. We interviewed her to learn more about what makes Pickard such a special place to work. Read more below.

What keeps you coming back to Pickard year after year? 

My administration has always been very supportive of my role here. For example, I was both the counselor and case manager for a period of time, and my administration helped me transition the case manager duties to a colleague so that I could better meet the demands of being a counselor. Change happens within school buildings, but the support I’ve received throughout the years has been consistent. 

What qualities do you see being most important to your role as a school counselor? 

Being available for students, staff, and parents is so important because you don’t want them to have to wait a long time to receive services. I also think it’s important to have a balanced view of what a student’s needs are. Sometimes, a teacher will have a different perspective than the student themself. You should approach your work in a way where everyone feels like they are heard. 

What are some of your goals for this school year? 

Our attendance has been lower than we would like. Some of that is from the lingering impact of the pandemic, but also because some families might be fearful given current events. Not only do I want to increase our attendance, but I also want to be a resource for families who may be afraid. Another goal of mine is to contribute to creating a positive environment at our school where there is high morale, so that it can be a place where everyone can thrive. 

What is your message to your students for the rest of the school year? 

Don’t forget to have fun at school! At the same time, remember to keep your time at school balanced. Academics and learning are of course important parts of the school day, but it’s okay to have fun as well. Enjoying school will help you have the best academic journey possible.