Our Students, Now: School Counselor Tara Lattimer-Wilson

Tara Lattimer-Wilson, school counselor at Denzel Washington School of the Arts, graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1992 and has committed much of her career to working in the school district she was raised in. She began her career in education as an outreach coordinator for the STAR (Success Through Academic Readiness) Program at MVHS. She then became a school counselor in NYC and returned to work Mount Vernon in 2007 as a school counselor. She felt a desire to work with Mount Vernon students and give back to her community after having her own great experiences, specifically with her high school counselor. Another influence on her path to education was her mother, Linda Lattimer, who was also an educator.

“Counselors play such an important role in our schools, and the work Mrs. Lattimer-Wilson does at DWSA is vital,” said Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith. “She has a deep connection to her students, strengthened by her time spent growing up in Mount Vernon and attending our schools. I am very grateful to have such a passionate person assisting our students as they work towards their futures.” 

Mrs. Lattimer-Wilson’s first official position in the District was at Longfellow Middle School as a school counselor. She is now a counselor at DWSA, but the first set of students she worked with at the high school level was in the STAR Program. She now sees those students with their careers and families and feels pride in their achievements. To stay connected with her fellow graduates, she also planned the Class of 1992 Reunion.

View the Q+A with her here!

What inspired you to come back and be an educator in your hometown?

I really wanted to work in my hometown where I grew up. When I was a student at Mount Vernon High School I used to actually help in the counseling office. I wouldn’t go to lunch sometimes, so I could help them. My counselor at the time – her name was Maryanne Webber – and I would help her and tell her I was interested in being a counselor one day. She would always joke with me like, “Be a lawyer, be a doctor,” but it was a joke. She’d say, “Are you sure you want to do this?” And I said yes, I’m very interested. I loved helping out.

Another reason I was always in the counseling office was because my mother passed away when I went to school there. First it started as me going to talk to my counselor, and then I started to help. So, it was helpful for me, with what I was going through at the time, to focus on something else. Then, I didn’t focus so much on what was happening to me. I had a great school counselor, and sometimes I hear stories that that’s not always the case for other people. That saddens me because I’m glad I had one. I always remember the things she did to model what I should be doing now. 

Also, at the time Dr. Brenda Smith was at MVHS as the vice principal. She was another very supportive person when I was a student and also Anne Young-Berkeley, who at the time was the director of the Y-MED (Young Mothers Education Development) Program at the high school. The two of them and my counselor really helped to keep me focused because that was tenth grade when I lost my mom. I really appreciate that, and I think that’s what inspired me to want to help students in Mount Vernon. Back when I was growing up in Mount Vernon, it was very family oriented. It truly was like, “it takes a village to raise a child.” I feel like I lived that growing up in Mount Vernon, so I always wanted to give back. 

How do you think your time in the District prepared you for your career? 

From me having that exposure (to counseling) as a high school student, that really helped me a lot to see all that I would have to do as a school counselor. I  was able to get that exposure. When we were in MVHS, they did career exploration and college exploration, so we did get to learn about what we were interested in. There was a lot of thinking about majors that we were interested in for college, exploring the different majors. It was so great that you could explore college majors but also decide if you wanted to do a trade because that existed at MVHS. They also did artistic things as well such as their Black Unity Choir, plays, step team, and so I feel like I was prepared and exposed enough. Dr. Brenda Smith made sure we were all exposed.

Are there any teachers or mentors that inspire you in your work today? What did you take from them? 

One thing that I remember is that they always pulled your family into any situation. They made sure your family was on board with what was being decided for you, especially in high school. I thought that was very important. It felt like a very strong community when I was growing up here. 

What was your favorite part of attending the District?

One thing I can say is that back when I was attending the District – I started off at Lincoln Elementary School then went to A.B. Davis Middle School and Mount Vernon High School – we didn’t have so many choices for schools. We followed along with each other, the students, and the teachers were able to connect better too because we were all going to MVHS at the end. I felt like we kept more of a connection through elementary, middle and high school as we moved up. It was very well connected. They were able to keep track of us and connect us with important people in the community. MVHS hosted trips to Italy, Canada, The Bahamas, and Senegal, West Africa. They offered cheerleading, Knightettes dance troupe, Peer Group Connections, Mock Trial Team, Future Business Leaders of America and a variety of sports teams. The success of the MVHS Knights Basketball Team has always been well known nationally.

Another connection that I made during my time growing up in Mount Vernon, especially when I turned 14, was through the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau. They provide jobs for the youth of Mount Vernon, so I actually managed to work during the school year and the summer. My first placement was at Mount Vernon City Hall, and then I was at Mount Vernon Day Care Center. My first boss, Christine Hylton, taught me so much about the working world, professionalism and helping the community. I was in the Veterans Service Agency working with veterans, and that opened my world to service also.

How does it feel to work in the District that you graduated from?

The interesting thing is, when I worked in Mount Vernon High School, I was working alongside some of my teachers, so that was a great experience. I also now have been the counselor to classmates' children and even some of their grandchildren at this point. I found out that one of my students was actually a classmate's grandchild. I look at myself and I feel like I was in their shoes growing up in this community. Sometimes they’ll talk about being at Hartley Park or certain places they go or things they do, and I’ll think, “I used to be at Hartley Park as a teen.” I always just keep in mind to be empathetic to all situations of children because I recall how it was for me as a teen going through a tough situation. Sometimes you have to look more deeply into what may be causing a behavior than just seeing the surface. Sometimes there is more of a reason, and we really need to help nurture the children and really delve into how we can help them not just academically but socially, emotionally and seeing the whole child.

Are there any unique strategies that you use to be successful with your students? 

I always try to have an open door policy. I really try not to say, “You can’t see me right now.” My door is pretty much always open, and I like having an open door policy because sometimes I feel like they can be going through something at a moment that may not be convenient for everyone, but they need to be heard at that moment. Yes, there are some times when I have a meeting, but I really try to at least hear them out to see how I can help them before I do the other things that I have to do. I just want them to know that they are being heard.

What would you say to students who want to pursue education or counseling?

Recently, there is a big push for social-emotional learning and seeing the whole student. In the light of today’s society, everything is pretty fast paced. With technology and everything that comes with it, I think there is a need for people to receive help, counseling and support. I feel like, especially since COVID, a lot of students may feel alone. They may have their phone or social media, but sometimes that’s still lonely. 

I just want to inspire other students to want to help others, empower others and hear people out or make a change in the community. By helping young people now, that will help our future in our community. So I try to inspire other students to want to go into the field by just remembering those key points: you want to inspire; you want to help the community; you want everyone to be emotionally well and of course academically supported. I also always tell students you need some short term goals and long term goals. It happens differently for different people, but always have that in mind to remember your goals. 

Is there any other advice you give students to help them on their academic or career journeys?

The main thing is just remembering what your passion is, what your goals are and to always strive for them. And seek out support along the way. You may have something in mind, but you don’t know how to get to that point. Always remember who your support people are. I always tell them that I’m a helping person in this school. I’m not here to hurt you; I’m here to help you. I always tell them to remember who their helping people are. They can be in the school, the community or at home, but you always need to have a set of helping people or a set of mentors. I was able to seek that out from my counselor because I liked what she did and wanted to do it. I kept talking to her about it, so I try to encourage students that it is important to talk to others and get to know what other people are doing. Less texting and technology – sometimes we have to set that aside and remember building relationships with people. 

Recently I did tell some students that I would like them to go to the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau – because they are interested in jobs – and think about what they want to say before they get there and how they want to present themselves. It’s important for them to have those skills – positive relationship skills. I try to encourage that also, and sometimes they have to be corrected. Out in the world, they will be looking for a career and have to know how to present themselves.