The counseling program at Washington strives to bring harmony and acceptance of who we are and what we can become. I teach classroom lessons every week or every other week depending on who your child’s teacher is. I also provide small support groups, brief individual therapy, newsletter items, offer staff and parent consultations, and teach a six week parenting class each semester on Parenting the Gifted Child.

Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons

Focus areas:

• Classroom guidance: Weekly or
  bi monthly
• Small groups: Open ended support groups
• Individual work with students: Work on problem solving skills that can be used on any problem that the student faces
• Parent Education: Parenting the Gifted Child
• Mentoring: Offer a lunch mentoring program. Volunteers are always welcome.
• Parent/staff consultation: Please call for an appointment
• Other: Washington Walking Club gives children a chance to relax at lunch by walking the perimeter of the school on Mondays in a friendly, accepting environment. Distances will be totaled and rewards given.

Mary E.L. Baker, M.Ed.

Educational background and experience: Masters degree from Seattle Pacific University, 22 yrs as a K-12 counselor

Outside of school Mary keeps busy in several different venues. To exercise the brain she is a Professor for Treasure Valley Community College working in the education department teaching classes around southwest Idaho. She also loves a good Mystery book. A passion of Mary’s which exercises the heart is performing musically. Besides keeping a steady stream of classical music running in her office she is involved in several musical groups playing the euphonium. (What is that you ask? A tenor tuba). She plays in Big Brass, Inc., Treasure Valley Concert Band, BSU All-Campus Band, BSU Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, Engelberg Brass Quintet, and the Boise School District Faculty Orchestra. Mary grew up playing and performing on the organ. To exercise the body Mary loves to snow ski, snow shoe, lake kayak, wake skate and surf, exercise, ride her scooter and her bike, and do yoga.

To email the counselor please use the following convention:
firstname.lastname@boiseschools.org (mary.baker)

For more information about our District's Counseling program:
District Counseling Department | Classroom Guidance Units | Small Groups
Parent Education | Individual Student Counseling & Parent/Staff Consultation