Student Support Services

Learning Support

Levine Academy's Learning Support Specialists are available to provide recommendations and interventions for students with learning differences. They assist students in fulfilling their academic success of the School's curriculum. The sole purpose of Levine's Learning Support team is to ensure that each individual student’s learning needs are addressed to help meet the unique and vigorous challenges of the Levine curriculum with success and a sense of competence. Academic assistance is available to any student portraying academic difficulty at Levine, with a particular focus on identifying and serving students with learning differences. 

In some instances, the Learning Specialist will need to investigate a student’s academic challenges through a more detailed process. The learning specialists will conduct student observations, retrieve teacher information, possibly administer academic screeners, and receive parent input. If the results indicate a need for additional intervention, the Learning Specialist will provide recommendations for outside services which may include a psychoeducational evaluation, and/or an evaluation from a speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist.

Students with diagnosed learning differences may qualify for accommodations in their academic program. The learning specialist will refer to the evaluation report to create an accommodation plan for the teachers to use for that particular student. In addition, learning specialists may work with students both in and out of the classroom. The learning specialists will partner with the classroom teachers to provide support and interventions to the students.

*All students, including students diagnosed with a learning difference, must meet the same requirements for admission and promotion at Ann & Nate Levine Academy.

Rachel Goldin
Lower School Learning Specialist
BS, Human Development, Binghamton University
M.Ed. Childhood Education, M.Ed. Teaching Literacy, Bank Street College of Education

Megan Fehler
Lower School/Middle School Learning Specialist
BS, Special Education, University of Arizona

Crystal Dyess-Carroll
Middle School Learning Specialist
BA, Government, Texas Woman's University
Masters of Child Development & Special Education (specializing in intellectual disabilities),Texas Woman’s University

Kate Williams
Dyslexia Interventionist  
Magna Cum Laude, Stephen F. Austin State University

Counseling

Licensed counselors specific to their divisions provide counseling services in each of our three schools (Early Childhood, Lower School and Middle School). The counselor in each division serves as a resource for social and emotional concerns, conducts classes and/or small groups, provides parent education and makes referrals to off-campus professionals and agencies. Educating and addressing the needs of the whole child is paramount in our philosophy, as we see the integration of the social, emotional, spiritual, and academic facets as vital to a healthy and productive life.

At Levine, our counseling staff, learning support staff, and academic leadership team all work together to address areas of need and strategize solutions. Our aim is to be flexible and accommodating with students, as well as to provide them with tools and techniques, in order for them to have success—behaviorally, socially and academically. Our counselors will also provide group intervention when appropriate on topics such as peer relationships, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Additional educational sessions and informational presentations to both students and parents will include cybersecurity, transition to high school, and other topics relevant to developmental needs.

Andy Blum, LCSW-S
Early Childhood - Lower School Counselor
BA, Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
MA, Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington

Suzie Hacker, LCSW
Middle School Grade Counselor
BA, Psychology, Tulane University
MS, Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis 

Middle School Advisory

The mission of the advisory program is to provide middle school students a primary source of support and consistency, including personal development, character education, and academic guidance.  Advisors will communicate with the classrooms teachers concerning their advisees on a regular basis.  Additionally, advisors will facilitate consistent communication between home and school.  Students will meet with their assigned advisory Monday through Friday morning. Students will attend services with their advisors and have lunch together one day per week.  The benefits of the advisor-advisee relationship and the advisory group are immeasurable and a key factor in fulfilling the mission of Ann and Nate Levine Academy, inspiring a passion for learning and graduating confident, ethical, Jewish citizens and leaders.

  • Check assignment books/Google Classroom to ensure students know their assignments and are completing assignments on time.
  • Give reminders about upcoming tests and projects.
  • Monitor homework and meet with classroom teachers if there is a repeated theme of concern.
  • Email parents  weekly with grade level updates.
  • Support students in establishing trimester goals - academic and otherwise. 
  • Check the grades of advisees regularly and if there is an issue, schedule a private conference and determine a plan to improve grades.  Arrange a meeting between student and classroom teacher.   It is also the responsibility of the classroom teacher to inform the advisor if a student is at risk. 
  • Bring student concerns to the Student Support Team.
  • Keep coaches informed of students who are not passing!  This is the responsibility of the advisor and the classroom teacher. 
  • Check students’ compliance with uniform code daily, discuss violation first with student and notify parent and principal of ongoing violations.
  • Collaborate with grade level advisors on weekly activities for students during advisory.
  • Coordinate a time for the MS counselor to meet with grade level on a regular basis. 
  • Meet with each advisee individually prior to parent conferences to establish guidelines for student-led conferences - goals student has set for self, etc.  Help students create portfolios for the conferences.
  • ​​​​​​​Facilitate Parent-Teacher Conferences with parents and students.