Fort Bend ISD (February 13, 2025) – Fort Bend ISD received the Distinguished School District Award from ChildBuilders, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing abuse.

“Fort Bend ISD recognizes the critical importance of ensuring students are safe from abuse and has made ChildBuilders programs a priority for the district,” Fort Bend ISD’s Coordinator of School Counseling & Social Emotional Learning Rachel McCune said. “By taking our students through the curriculum they are empowered with assertive skills, emotional control, empathy, resilience, the ability to resolve conflict non-violently, and learn they have the power to shape their own futures, regardless of the challenges they may face.”

Each year, FBISD elementary school counselors receive training in ChildBuilders’ Stand Strong, Stay Safe program, which equips students with tools to protect themselves from harm. 

In the 2023-24 school year, the program was taught in 31 schools and reached more than 15,000 students.

(L-R) Constance Ellison – Madden Elementary counselor; Jennifer Scholl – Brazos Bend Elementary counselor; Emily Loesh – Settlers Way Elementary counselor; Karol Hartman – Colony Bend Elementary counselor; Amanda Siroosian – ChildBuilders Executive Director; Rachel McCune – Coordinator of School Counseling; Melissa Masters – Cornerstone Elementary counselor; Tammie Tate – Juan Seguin Elementary counselor