Staff Spotlight: Molly Palmer 

The counselors at Dogwood Virtual School are some of the first people our students meet, ensuring that the virtual learning experience is a positive one from the very first steps. Introducing Molly Palmer, DVS’s elementary school counselor. 

Guiding The Learning Journey 

Ms. Palmer has a master’s degree in counseling and has been an elementary school counselor for 13 years. She was interested in the virtual school setting and recently joined DVS, where she enjoys working with students during such a big period of growth. 

“Working with children from kindergarten through fifth grade allows you to watch a truly transformative journey. When you work with kindergarteners, they don’t understand the school process. Then you have the fifth-grade group that is ready to move on to middle school – they’re adolescents. It’s a big difference.” 

Ms. Palmer supports students in classrooms every other week with activities to build life skills, while also providing resources and support to parents and learning coaches, working on academic progress and attendance with students and parents, and offering individual check-ins for students when needed. 

Balancing Mental Health and Education 

Ms. Palmer is an advocate for her students and protecting their mental health, particularly around end-of-grade testing each year – a time that can cause a lot of worry for some students. She’s excited to offer annual small group sessions to help students manage test anxiety and learn how to use relaxation techniques and coping skills rather than focusing on the actual test and adding unnecessary pressure. 

“When a student is starting to feel out of control, things like deep breathing and grounding exercises can help them change their focus to what they can control.” 

Ms. Palmer’s passion for helping students across all aspects of their life makes her an invaluable member of the DVS family!  

Is Online Learning Right for Your Family? 

Virtual education is one of the many choices out there for your child. Explore Dogwood Virtual School and discover how our flexible online programs can empower your child to thrive, graduate early, and achieve their goals sooner. Click here to get started today!