Student Support Services
Counselors
Mikiko Ellis, Bilingual School Counselor
mellis@nmschoolforthearts.org | 505.310.4194 x104
Acacia McCombs, Science Teacher, Senior Adviser amccombs@nmschoolforthearts.org
Lisa Oberteuffer, Special Education Coordinator loberteuffer@nmschoolforthearts.org
Student Support Services
The New Mexico School for the Arts offers a range of services to ensure that every student has the social-emotional and academic tools they need to succeed in high school, and that students and parents get plenty of time and support for college career and post-secondary planning, including scholarship identification and application.
As a part of this, through NMSA’s 9th Grade Academy course, all students are taught non-cognitive skills, such as growth mindset, organization, time management, self-assessment, self-advocacy and note-taking; close reading skills, such as annotation and text-dependent questioning; social-emotional skills, including cooperative learning, communicating with teachers and stress management; and test-taking skills.
The school also provides special education and mental health support services to students who need it.
9th Grade Academy
This course prepares all 9th graders for academic and social-emotional success as high school students. Students will study non-cognitive skills (growth mindset, organization, time management, self-assessment, self-advocacy, note-taking, college preparation); close reading skills (annotation, text features, text-dependent questioning); social-emotional skills (cooperative learning, communicating with teachers, stress management); and test-taking skills.
College Counseling
Acacia McCombs, Senior Advisor
amccombs@nmschoolforthearts.org
Special Education
NMSA provides special education services to students with disabilities and gifted students.
Lisa Oberteuffer, Special Education Coordinator
loberteuffer@nmschoolforthearts.org
Senior Seminar
The course focuses on helping senior students identify colleges and apply for admission. This includes focus on creating the common application, college essay writing, admission requirements (including audition and portfolio development), financial aid and college recruitment visits.
School Counseling Program and Mental Health Services
NMSA’s school counseling program focuses on social, emotional and academic support. We offer classroom workshops and curriculum, peer to peer support programs, counseling groups and one on one brief counseling and support sessions. For students in need of more intensive therapy we can offer referrals for onsite or community based therapy. Contact Mikiko Ellis, school counselor for more details.
Mikiko Ellis, Bilingual School Counselor
mellis@nmschoolforthearts.org | 505.310.4194 x104