Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Greenlee.
Hi Erin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My Texas teaching journey started in 2009. I taught fourth grade in Leander ISD for many years and then second grade in Leander ISD for one year. I noticed that I was spending more and more time working with students on their social emotional needs and helping them solve problems with their peers. After much thought, I decided to go back to school and earn my Masters in School Counseling. At that time, I had two daughters ages 6 and 2. I was lucky enough to be able to complete an online Master’s program and do all of my classes and assignments in the evenings, along with late into the night after the kids were in bed. I completed the program in 2 years and became an Elementary School Counselor in Leander ISD in 2016.
I love my job as an elementary school counselor. My role includes guidance lessons, small groups with students, providing resources to families and students, helping students problem solve, providing support to families and students in crisis, and anything else that arises throughout the day. I love how everyday is different and the I have the opportunity to love on and help kids.
My counseling career also introduced me to my son. One of my roles as a school counselor is to provide support for foster children. One day in September 2018 I received a call that a new student was enrolling and to please come meet him. I walked in the front office and saw this five years old boy with big eyes looking at me. I asked him if he wanted to come with me to get breakfast in the cafeteria and eat in my office. He grabbed my hand and I instantly felt connected with him. My husband and I had never really discussed adoption. We had our two beautiful girls and we thought our family was complete. After spending a short amount of time with this little boy, I knew I wanted to adopt him. I reached out to his current foster family and asked what the status was and if they were planning on adopting him. Luckily for us, they were only an emergency placement and not his forever home. Matt and I decided to get licensed to foster and three months later, our home was officially a foster home. Our son moved in with us February 2019.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest obstacle for me as a school counselor is being able to leave my job at the end of the day and not carry all the stressors home. My first year as a school counselor, I noticed I was getting my own anxieties after hearing all the sadness that these young children experience. I want to save every child and I had to learn that there are many things out of my circle of control. I had to come up with my own self-care plan so that I could continue to be a good mom, wife, and school counselor.
On the other hand, fostering a child is HARD. I am blessed to have a supportive husband and family. I can’t imagine doing this alone. We have learned so much about trauma and what it does to the brain. It is gut-wrenching to watch your child battle demons that no child should endure. Our son was severely neglected, severely physically abused, and has been diagnosed with a plethora of disorders.
Our daughters have accepted the new dynamics of our family with grace. We did have many conversations with them before bringing our son into the house. I was amazed at how accepting, happy, and excited they were to have a brother.
One thing that Matt and I decided from the beginning was that our son would not be treated differently than our daughters. They were all three of our children and were to be treated as equals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am most proud of the fact that in a school of over 900 students, almost all of them know my name and face. I make it a priority to build relationships with the children at Whitestone Elementary. It is so important to have a relationship with parents and students so that you can be there for them when a crisis or problem arises.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I consider myself lucky to have a career that I love and am happy to go to work everyday. Also without my job, I would have never met my son and completed my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/mrsgreenlee/home
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.greenlee.5/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ergreenlee/?hl=en
Image Credits
Katie Starr Photography
