Students returning to Fayette County High this fall will notice some changes in the school’s guidance department.

Due to a new graduation coach program that is being implemented this year to provide additional support for students, the counseling staff is shifting student-counselor assignments to accommodate for personnel changes associated with the program.

School counselor Donna Banks has been assigned the graduation coach position for Fayette County High. Her new students will be identified through grades, test scores, referrals from counselors, teachers and parents.

The primary role of the graduation coach is to serve as a liaison among students, parents, teachers, administrators and counselors to pinpoint who will benefit from the program, assist students in identifying secondary and post-secondary educational options and life-long goals and serve as a link between the school and community to provide additional academic and emotional support, as well as enhanced educational and career-oriented experiences for students.

As a result of the change in Banks’ position, each counselor in the guidance department will be overseeing a new set of students this August. The changes in student-counselor assignments are as follows based on the first letters of the student’s last name: Lorabeth Stroup (last names beginning with A-Dl, Mg-N and all ESOL students), Ross Blackwood (last names beginning with Dm-Me) and Beverly Brown (last names beginning with O-Z).

“We are planning for a smooth transition and look forward to serving the students of Fayette County High,” says Stroup.