Wellness Advocates Valuing Educators and Students (WAVES)

What is the WAVES Program?

Researchers in the Department of Counselor Education at FAU are proud to partner with Brevard Public Schools (BPS), the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC), the School District of Manatee County (SDMC), the School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC), Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) to increase the number of mental health providers in high-poverty, high-need schools.

Who Can Apply?

The WAVES program will admit three cohorts of counselors-in-training to start their master's or Ed.S. degrees in School Counseling beginning Fall 2023, January 2024, and January 2025. To be eligible, students must meet the following requirements:

Be employed in a partner school district.
Hold a bachelor's or higher degree.
Meet the admission requirements (3.0 UGPA, GRE scores) and application deadlines.

Project Team

Dr. Elizabeth Villares Sacks
Principal Investigator
Professor
evillare@fau.edu

Dr. Phyllis Hannah Bowers Parker
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
bowersp@fau.edu

District Partners

Brevard Public Schools (BPS)

School District of Indian River County (SDIRC)

District of Manatee County (SDMC)

School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC)

Polk County Public Schools (PCPS)

Program Instructors

Dr. Hannah Bowers
Dr. Eleanor Craft
Dr. Kadeem Campbell
Dr. Melissa Garcia
Dr. Michael Kane
Dr. Christina Ladd
Dr. Carmen Larson
Dr. Olga Rocha
Dr. Deirdra Sanders-Burnett
Dr. Ivette Urbina
Dr. Tiffany Vastardis
Dr. Elizabeth Villares Sacks

Advisory Board Members

Coming soon.

WAVES Fall 2025 Cohort Information Sessions

Please contact your district liaison for the information links, program FAQs, presentation slides, and session recordings.

School District of Manatee County

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 4 pm to 5 pm
Thursday, August 12, 2024 - 4:30 pm to 5:30pm
Monday, September 9, 2024 - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

School District of Palm Beach County

Thursday, August 8, 2024 (Palm Beach) - 5 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, August 22, 2024 (Palm Beach) - 5:00 pm to 6 pm

Polk County Public Schools

Thursday, September 5, 2024 (Polk) - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Thursday, September 12, 2024 (Polk) - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Fall 2025 Cohort Supplemental Applications Due October 1, 2024

Submission Link: https://forms.gle/yeVJpXkedLsc6o1KA

Supplemental Materials Packet:

Statement of objectives: 2-3 pages
School Counselor Interview
Resume
Copy of your Professional or Temporary Teaching Certificate
Three recommendation letters on professional letterhead – one from a current administrator
Unofficial transcripts

District WAVES Liaisons

Rick Flesher

Brevard Public Schools
Email:Flesher.Richard@Brevardschools.org

Sara Ange

School District of Indian River County
Email: sara.ange@indianriverschools.org

Dr. Prentiss Herron

School District of Manatee County
Email: herronp@manateeschools.net

Dr. Raiko Holman Knight

School District of Palm Beach County
Email: raiko.holmanknight@palmbeachschools.org

Dr. Eric Ehrhart

Polk County Public Schools
Email: eric.ehrhart01@polk-fl.net

Project Goal and Outcomes

The Department of Counselor Education will train 119 diverse and culturally responsive aspiring school counselors to earn their Florida School Counselor certification to expand that pipeline of qualified school-based mental health providers.

Annual Reports

Coming soon.

In the News

FAU Gets $6 Million to Increase Mental Health Counselors in Schools

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Safe and Drug-free Schools and Communities – National Programs 84.184X. This webpage is operated and maintained by the Department of Counselor Education. The contents of this Web site do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education nor do they imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.