Meet the School Counselor

Hello, my name is Heather Doran, and I am so excited to be part of Patrick Elementary.  I have been a school counselor in Gwinnett County for the last 4 years and worked in education for 10 years.  I earned a Bachelor's in Child and Family Psychology from Cedarville University and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. 

I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Steve, for 25 years and we have three amazing children who are all attending Gwinnett County schools. I also have two lovable dogs.  I am passionate about helping students achieve success socially, emotionally, and academically.  

A School Counselor’s Role

My primary responsibility is to promote and teach academic, social/emotional, and career readiness to all students. I look forward to serving students, families, staff, and the Patrick community. I will meet with students for classroom lessons, small group counseling, individual counseling sessions.

Classroom Lessons – I will be teaching classroom lessons one day a week during specials rotations. My lessons will focus on academic development, career development, and life skills.

Individual Counseling – I will meet with students individually as needed. Any student can request to meet with me. They may also be referred by a teacher, administrator, or parent. If you have any concerns please reach out to me. If you would like me to meet with your child individually, please do not hesitate to call me.

Small-Group Counseling – I conduct small groups with 3 or more students. Small Groups meet for 30 minutes once a week for approximately 6 weeks. Topics may include: attendance, study skills, organization skills, self-esteem, social skills, anxiety coping skills, new students, family changes, coping with grief, anger management, and self-regulation. Parent permission is required for a student to participate in a small counseling group.

Parents/Staff/Community – My job is to collaborate with parents, teachers, staff, and community members to benefit and meet the needs of all students/families at Patrick Elementary.