Mental Health Awareness Week
Did you know that Doddridge County Schools has a dedicated mental health professional in every school building?
As school systems across the country continue to address the growing need for student mental health support, Doddridge County Schools is proud to lead the way. With a fully integrated Holistic Child Department and strong participation in Communities In Schools West Virginia, an evidence-based initiative tailored to each community's needs, we are creating meaningful, lasting support for students.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a powerful time to recognize the essential work happening in our schools each day, and to celebrate the incredible team making it possible.
Our Holistic Child Department works beyond the classroom to remove barriers to learning and ensure that every student is physically, mentally, and socially healthy. This year alone, the team has delivered thousands of direct supports and interventions—over 4,200 instances of supportive counseling and more than 700 individual counseling sessions. They’ve responded to nearly 400 crisis prevention situations and provided 95 targeted crisis interventions. More than 1,000 consultations have taken place with both school staff and administrators, and the team has worked closely with families and outside agencies to support students’ unique needs. From classroom support and mentoring to social-emotional learning, social skills development, home visits, and basic needs assistance, their impact reaches into every part of a student’s life.
These services are led by a compassionate and highly experienced team:
Jeremy Waugaman - Mental Health Coordinator/Communities In Schools County Contact has 25 years of experience working with students and joined the team at DC Schools during the 2016 – 2017 school year.
Wil Bragg - Communities In Schools Site Coordinator (DCES), has 2 years’ experience working within the school system and joined the team at DC Schools during the 2023 – 2024 school year.
Ben Thomas – Board Certified Behavioral Analyst, has 16 years of experience working within the school system with students and 4 years as a BCBA. Return to DC Schools for the 2024 – 2025 school year.
Tiffany Flanagan - Mental Health Specialist/Communities in Schools Site Coordinator (DCMS) has 25 years of experience working with students and joined the team at DC Schools during the 2023 – 2024 school year.
Amanda Gum - School Social Worker/Communities in Schools Site Coordinator (DCHS) has 18 years of experience and joined the team at DC Schools during the 2019 – 2020 school year.
Happy Plaugher – PERC Coordinator/Mental Health Specialist (DCELA) – has 16 years’ experience in the school system and started her new role with DC Schools during the 2022 – 2023 school year.
Mona Mayle – School Counselor at Doddridge County Elementary School, has 25 years of experience working with students. She has been a school counselor previously at Elementary and High Schools. She began at DC Schools during the 2013 – 2014 school year.
Katalin Gilgenast – School Counselor at Doddridge County Middle School, has 6 years of experience as a school counselor at both the High School and Middles School levels. She began at DC Schools during the 2021 – 2022 school year.
Alessa Ash - School Counselor at Doddridge County High School, has 2 years of experience as a school counselor and began at DC Schools during the 2024 – 2025 school year.
And this year, our team grew in the best way, with a little extra love, calm, and comfort.
Meet Chloe, our district’s first-ever therapy dog, and an official member of the Holistic Child Department!
Introduced in August, Chloe has quickly become a beloved presence in our schools. Whether offering comfort during difficult moments, reducing anxiety in students, or simply bringing a smile to a child’s face, Chloe’s gentle support adds a special layer of care to our mental health efforts, one tail wag at a time.
This team of professionals and pup are more than job titles. They are trusted mentors, compassionate listeners, and everyday champions of student wellness.
At Doddridge County Schools, we are proud to invest in the whole child. That commitment strengthens our schools, supports our students, and builds a brighter, healthier future for all.