Tina Compton’s path to school counseling began in her classroom, where she realized many of her students’ struggles weren’t academic, they were emotional.
“I saw students struggling because of issues outside the classroom, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, food insecurity, or family instability,” Compton said. “I was spending so much time managing behaviors rather than addressing the root cause.”
That realization changed the trajectory of her 30-year career in education. Compton discovered a passion for social-emotional learning and helping students build confidence and resilience.
“I knew I needed to help students build the emotional toolkit needed for long-term success,” she said.
Now, in her ninth year as a school counselor, and 20 years with Dallas ISD, Compton is a counselor at Martha Turner Reilly Elementary School. No two days look the same, and Compton says that describing counselors as wearing many hats is an understatement.
Her work includes meeting individually with every child at the beginning and middle of the year, leading small groups, and teaching daily guidance lessons with built-in social-emotional learning time. She also monitors academic progress and coordinates campus events like career day, Junior Achievement Day, and monthly Reilly Rallies. She’s also the voice behind the school’s daily announcements.
But at the center of it all is connection.
“It’s the relationships, and the chance to make school fun, that are the most rewarding,” Compton said. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student’s face light up when they see me.”
Whether dressing up in costumes during holiday celebrations or serving as the hype person at campus events, she says joy plays an important role in helping students feel safe and supported.
“I believe that a little bit of silliness and a lot of joy go a long way in making a student feel safe and happy at school,” Compton said.
As Dallas ISD focuses on legacy, Compton hopes hers will reflect the foundation she’s worked to build.
“I want students to remember me as the counselor who made school a safe, joyful place. Where they felt seen, heard, and had the emotional tools they needed to face any challenge,” she said. “Ultimately, I hope I’m remembered for fostering a campus culture where SEL wasn’t just a lesson plan, but the heart of everything we did.”
