Social Work Support
Hi TIS Students and Families!
We are so happy you stopped by our support page to see us! We have missed all of you while we’ve been physically away from TIS and hope you all are doing well.
For additional support, please feel free to fill out our “How can we support?” Social Work Team Survey!
We will monitor the survey’s completed and will reach out to you with additional resources or support once we get the form requests!
Please visit this page often as new resources are always being added!
Meet Our Social Work Team
Iliana Garcia
Social Work Director igarcia@tisnm.org
Social Work Pre-K to 12
Hi there! My name is Iliana Garcia and I am a Social Worker at The International School at Mesa del Sol. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and have a deep love for my city. I have always had a deep passion for helping others become their best self, regardless of their upbringing or obstacles they may face. I graduated from University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Spanish. After moving away from Albuquerque and traveling for 2 years, I returned to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work. During this time, I was able to complete a year of my internship at TIS and was invited to join the team full time after I graduated in 2016. I have been a part of TIS since then and I am starting my 5th year as a Social Worker at our school. I enjoy supporting students of all ages and have continued to grow as a Social Worker through my time at TIS. I believe that all students deserve a quality education and can grow into their best version of themselves when given the right support and guidance. I have enjoyed working in an IB environment as I believe that it fits well into my mission as a Social Worker. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Hazelnut, my family and friends. I love the outdoors and find nature extremely healing, I am always up for an adventure. I love to travel and hope to explore the world in my lifetime!
Hello My name is Marcus Carter, I am originally from Washington D.C., I am the School’s Social Worker. I embarked upon this career several years after retiring from the United States Armed Forces. This is my second year at The International School at Mesa del Sol! My goal is to assist every student with developing a belief and confidence within themselves that allows them to face each classroom challenge head on, not be afraid to take academic risk, and to seek guidance or understanding when unsure. I seek to assist each student with developing their voice to better advocate for themselves in any environment, to advocate for peers, and to positively enhance every environment they enter. In this COVID-19 challenging learning environment, my goal is to ensure our students' social and emotional wellbeing are maintained to the best of my ability. In my spare time I enjoy hanging with friends, speaking with friends and family who live far away through various technological mediums, playing the occasional video game, listening to various genres of music, BBQing, occasionally trying a recipe or two. I look forward to working with you and your family this school year to make it a great school year for our students whether we are remote learning, blended learning, or fully in the classroom.
Need to Contact a Social Worker?
Ms. Iliana (Social Work Director)
Email: igarcia@tisnm.org
Cell phone: 505-750-0610 (can call or text)
Behavior Health
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can cause New Mexicans of any age and any walk of life to feel overwhelmed, scared, anxious, or make it harder to cope with mental health conditions they struggled with before the pandemic.
Below you will find resources to help yourself, your family, your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors and others. Remember, even when things feel overwhelming, there is hope because there is help available.
To help combat strong feelings like anxiety, staying informed is important. The NewMexico.gov web site provides the best and latest information on staying well because it is updated regularly. Please use it as a one-stop resource.
As hard as you work to stay healthy, remember your emotions, thoughts, faith or spirituality, and relationships are just as important in staying healthy as washing your hands. Please consider reaching out to the mental health providers and/or faith and community leaders in your area to learn more about their resources and services.
Visit NM Behavioral Health Website for more information.
I NEED IMMEDIATE HELP
For immediate help for you or someone you love, and for access to behavioral health resources in your community, please call or text from your smart phone on the NMCONNECT app or just call 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474).
I NEED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Since the threat of COVID-19 also affects us emotionally, we have provided you with some behavioral health care resource links that can help:
How to Take Care of Your Mental Health During Social Isolation
Countering COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Stigma and Racism: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
I NEED RESOURCES
You can get the latest information on COVID prevention and treatment by visiting the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico continues to practice healthy habits, we have been creating innovative ways to virtually enroll, match and support our Bigs and Littles.
We are here. We are important. We are #BiggerTogether.
How it works:
Your child will be matched with a volunteer who shares similar interest. Their Big will spend a minimum of four hours a month with them. They can decide together, and with your permission, what virtual activities they will do together (e.g., watching a movie, reading a book, doing a virtual park/museum tour, learning a new language, writing a letter, taking a free class together).
Volunteers You Can Trust:
All potential volunteers go through an extensive enrollment process, which includes a layered background check, references, training, and conduct an in- depth interview with all potential volunteers to ensure they are suitable.
Parents can call Gabrielle Keigher, Enrollment Coordinator at: (505) 837-9223
Or sign their child up on our website http://www.bbbs-cnm.org/enroll-a-child/
Virtual and At Home Learning
VIRTUAL LEARNING SUPPORT
● Take care of your child’s emotional and health needs during this time. Do not neglect your own needs and reach out to available community networks and resources.
● Work with your child to have meaningful learning experiences that connect to your home lives, interests, and identities.
Recommended Actions:
● Think out loud or describe what you are doing as you do it, whether it is cooking, fixing something, taking care of pets, or other housework. Ask questions, even when you do not know the answer!
● You can ask your child questions, like “what do you notice? Why do you think that’s happening? What can you teach me about this?” If you have two or more children working together, you can use these prompt cards to help students guide their own talk. Please use home languages to support your child.
● Many activities you regularly do can support meaningful learning! To explore the kinds of connections that are possible, you can do Internet searches like “science of [EVERYDAY ACTIVITY]]” (e.g., construction, cooking, gardening, washing). This can open up all sorts of meaningful questions and experiments (e.g., how does soap work, how do we hear sounds).
● Build from the Interests of Your Children. You know your child — consider whether they have personal, family, or community interests that they do not always get to pursue in school. Are there projects, ideas, or collaborations that might connect those interests to their learning?
LINKS FOR PARENTS
Education Reimagined; Distance Learning Resource Center
How to support
Tips
Mental Health
Available Mental Health Resources in Albuquerque.
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services/Hotlines
AGORA Crisis Center: Crisis Center call (505) 277-3013
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
NM Crisis and Access Line: www.nmcrisisline.com 1(855) NMCRISIS (1-855-662-7474)
UNM Psychiatric Center: (505) 272-2800
New Mexico Statewide Crisis Line: 1-866-HELP-1-NM (1-866-435-7166)
USA National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-2433
USA National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Internet Resources
Please click on the links below to obtain free or low cost WIFI services for your family.
Comcast
Offering two months of free WIFI
Lifeline: CenturyLink provides qualifying low-income customers the access to two support programs:
Lifeline (Federal) and
Telephone Assistance Program (TAP) assistance offered at the state level
https://www.centurylink.com/aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html
Other resources: Areas in Albuquerque that offers free outdoor WIFI
Clothing and other Resources
LOCKER #505: Student Clothing Bank
Locker 505 is a non-profit organization where families can receive assistance in obtaining clothing for your student. If you are interested please email or call our School Social Worker Ms. Iliana Garcia, she will provide you with a referral for this program.
• Phone: (505) 750-0610
• E-Mail: igarcia@tisnm.org
THE APS COMMUNITY CLOTHING BANK
The APS Clothing Bank is available to help students in need of clothing.
Parents/Guardians can request assistance up to two times a year.
Students will receive socks, underwear, shoes, and a voucher for some outfits.
You will need the following information:
Student's Name
Sock and Underwear Size
Shoe size
Shoes are difficult to obtain, so please only include shoe size if your child truly needs it.
State the reason for the need.
Coat size
Coats are not always available.
For more information about this program please contact our School Social Worker Ms. Iliana Garcia
• Phone: (505) 750-0610
• E-Mail: igarcia@tisnm.org
Clare’s Closet
Monday; (505)896-1999
Sunday-Tuesday; (505)633-5726
Wednesday-Saturday; (505)633-6709
Other Resources
Need help with bills, clothing, furniture or school supplies? Please click below for a list of available assistance in Albuquerque & Bernalillo County
Covid-19 Resources
Local resources to help support families during this time.
Resources to support student well-being and learning during school closures
PYP Resources
For more information on coping, regulation, and ground skills for your student click on the buttons below.
MYP & HS Resources
Teacher & Staff Resources
10 Mental Health Tips for Teachers Balancing Life and Remote Teaching
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers, school counselors, and school employees have remained acutely focused on supporting their students and continuing to do their jobs at this time. In some cases, this may mean teaching, care-taking (whether for children or other loved ones), and continuing to work through the same challenges that anyone else is. While resources related to mental health have been (rightfully) front and center for supporting students, parents, and others, less focus has been paid on maintaining the mental health of the educators who are also trying to find balance in our new way of living and remote teaching. That’s why we put together some mental health tips for teachers that can help during COVID-19.
Strategies for Districts to Support Self-Care for Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Many lives are significantly disrupted with millions of students now at home, thousands of educators teaching from home, and entire families and communities on lockdown. In order to support others, however, we must support ourselves first.
This archived webinar, hosted by REL West, the Region 15 Comprehensive Center, and the National Center to Improve Social & Emotional Learning and School Safety, offers practical information and guidance backed by research to help school staff cope with the stresses of school closures, service provision, and quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips for Teaching Online: 10 Tips for Success from New Online Teachers
During the spring semester, RIT’s Teaching and Learning Services hosted a series of workshops for faculty new to developing online courses. After each faculty member taught their newly designed course for the first time, we asked them to write a reflection on how the course went and how they would improve the course before the next offering. With their permission, we’ve taken those reflections and distilled from them 10 tips for improving an online course.
7 Essential Strategies for New Online Distance Teachers
As teachers worldwide hastily cobble together resources and navigate an endless array of online teaching tools, one question remains: How do we actually do online teaching? No amount of free trials or complex digital tools will help. What we really need are best practice strategies. Now.
Look no further. Here are the ten vital online teaching strategies that you need to bring dynamic learning out of the classroom and into the virtual world.
Best Practices for Teaching Online
