Admin

Welcome to OCPS Mental Health Services

Each school in OCPS has a Mental Health Designee, which is generally the school counselor in elementary and the SAFE Coordinator in secondary schools. This MHD works collaboratively with the Student Services team on each campus to put resources and interventions into place that support the mental and emotional health of students. Parents and guardians who would like more information regarding mental health counseling or resources should contact their school’s Mental Health Designee. For information about resources in the community, families can visit CommunityConnect.OCPS.net.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors

OCPS is fortunate to have a team of 45 Licensed Mental Health Counselors to support our schools and four mental health professionals providing support to our charter schools.

Our team supports our students and schools in a variety of ways including aiding schools in referring students for mental health services, providing brief counseling services, conducting trainings on mental health topics, and attending various meetings where a mental health perspective or consultation is beneficial.

Mental Well-Being and Suicide Prevention

Some Common Warning Signs:

  • Withdrawal from friends and activities
  • Sudden change in behavior (for better or worse)
  • Lack of interest
  • Increased use of alcohol and other drugs
  • Recent loss of a friend, family member or parent, especially if they died of suicide
  • Conflicting feelings or a sense of shame about being gay or straight
  • Mood swings, emotional outbursts, high level of irritability or aggression
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Preoccupation with death, giving a way valuable possessions
  • Talk of suicide: e.g. "no one cares if I live or die"
  • "Hero worship" of people who have died by suicide
  • Mental Well Being and Suicide Counselors

Parent Resources for Resiliency Mandated Instruction

Florida Statute 1003.42 requires public schools to facilitate at least 5 hours of mental health instruction in grades 6-12. Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis has created the Resiliency Toolkit to help educators teach mental health and character education in their classrooms, but parents may find some resources helpful as well. Orange County Public Schools provides lessons on the topics that are mandated by Rule 6A-1.094124 in the Florida Administrative Code
Mental Health Services header

Department Contacts

Mental Health Services Parent Helpline

407-317-3694
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.


Kimberly Beckler
Director - Ext. 2002785

Paula Jackson-Wright
Senior Administrator - Ext. 6285564

Courtney Sellers
Senior Administrator - Ext.6283692

Robert Barrington
Application Specialist IV - Ext. 6283696

Maryann Anderson
Program Specialist - Ext. 6284591

Zaneta Schaffer
SEDNET 7A Project Manager - Ext. 6283697

Rachel Smith
Program Specialist - Ext. 6283690

Brendan Cassimy
Program Coordinator - Ext. 2882400

Malisa Robinson
Administrative Secretary - Ext. 2004624

Mildred Walker
Administrative Specialist  - Ext. 6284530

Mental Health Services

3130 Edgewater Drive Orlando, FL 32804 407.317.3908 Ext. 2004624