Phyllis Fagell is a licensed clinical professional counsellor, a certified professional school counsellor, and a journalist. She has worked in both public and private schools with students in grades K-12, focusing on middle school for the last several years. She currently works full time as the school counsellor for Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. She also provides therapy to children, teens and families in private practice.
"Middle School Matters is a must-read for parents, educators and
anyone else seeking guidance through the transitions of this
critical developmental period, with all its psychological,
physical, social and academic challenges. Fagell writes clearly and
concisely, offering practical suggestions and engaging anecdotes to
illustrate her points. The conversation starters are
excellent!"--Mary K. Alvord, PhD, psychologist and coauthor Conquer
Negative Thinking for Teens, and Resilience Builder Program for
Children and Adolescence
"Middle School Matters shines much-needed light on the fascinating
-- and fraught -- middle school years. With the wisdom of a
seasoned counselor and the relatability of a close friend, Phyllis
Fagell offers an unflinching, reassuring, and indispensable guide
to a pivotal time in parenting."--Lisa Damour, PhD, author of Under
Pressure and Untangled
"[Fagell's] advice is fresh and relevant, welcoming and
welcomed."
--Chicago Tribune
"As a lifelong educator and the parent of two teens and a tween, I
cannot recommend this book enough! I just wish Middle School
Matters had been written when I was a superintendent and led a
middle school transformation effort, as the ideas, advice and
practical guidance are invaluable. Phyllis Fagell has done us all a
great service by breaking down the middle school years into
easily-understood concepts that parents and educators can use to
work with early adolescents in any setting. Phyllis presents simple
strategies and approaches to help students -- and adults --
navigate an amazingly complex and exciting time in their lives. I
highly encourage teachers, principals, parents, policy makers and
anyone interested in using the middle school years to lay the
foundation for success in the teenage years and beyond to read and
apply the lessons of this book now!"--Joshua P. Starr, EdD, Chief
Executive Officer, PDK International
"I love, love Middle School Matters! Phyllis Fagell has done a
stupendous job! Middle School Matters gives parents of middle
school boys and girls an essential guide to walk alongside their
children as they go through middle school. The book is filled with
just the right combination of research and common sense strategies
that only a middle school counselor in the trenches could deliver.
With this book, parents don't need to dread the middle school
years. Instead they can be prepared and informed so they can do
best by their kids. I wish I had had this book when my boys were in
middle school!"--Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and
Wannabes and founder of Cultures of Dignity
"Middle school parents: help is finally here! This is the book
parents have been waiting for since...forever. Parents have long
been socialized to fear the middle school years as a time of great
turmoil and never-ending drama, but Phyllis Fagell opens our eyes
to the modern middle school student by sharing a powerful
combination of current research, anecdotes from actual middle
schoolers, and her own expertise as a middle school counselor.
Middle School Matters is packed with helpful tips and actionable
strategies to help your middle school student thrive instead of
simply survive."--Katie Hurley, LCSW, author of No More Mean Girls
and The Happy Kid Handbook
"Middle School does matter! And, parents matter during these
years...as much as you ever have, maybe more. As young people
strive to answer, 'Who am I?' they need you to stand solidly in
their corner reminding them that they are perfect just as they are.
Phyllis Fagell has created a masterpiece here -- an actionable
guide filled with the skill-sets you'll need to support your child
through these critical life-shaping years."--Ken Ginsburg, MD, MS
Ed, author of Raising Kids to Thrive and Building Resilience in
Children and Teens, Parentandteen.com
"No one captures the magic, delight, struggle, and triumphs to be
found in middle school like Phyllis Fagell. She knows middle school
inside and out, and her advice is some of the best available for
students, parents, and teachers."--Jessica Lahey, author of The
Gift of Failure
"Phyllis Fagell's Middle School Matters is full of practical ideas
and timely wisdom. Grounded in her own deep experience as a school
counselor, Fagell guides parents and teachers in the complex
choreography of leading--and listening to and following--teens
during the often difficult, emotionally uphill and unpredictable
years of middle school. With clarity, compassion and honesty, she
teaches us how teens can avoid the risks and damage that middle
school can bring. But she also reminds us that middle school can be
a time of tremendous, exciting growth. With active, thoughtful role
models, middle schoolers can develop knowledge and skills that are
key to becoming thriving, engaged, kind and justice-minded high
school students and adults. Every parent with a middle school child
should read this book."--Rick Weissbourd, Senior Lecturer on
Education, Faculty Director, Human Development and Psychology and
author of The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults
Undermine Children's Moral and Emotional Development
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