Kim Yelverton

Lower School Guidance

Kim Coffman Yelverton, the PreK-1 guidance counselor, received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Mississippi and a master of science in counseling from the University of Memphis.

Mrs. Yelverton has been in education for more than 20 years, and at USJ for four years. She is associated with the Christian Educators Association, Tennessee Counselors Association, American School Counselor Association, Tennessee Eating Disorders Coalition, America Diabetes Association, and Juvenile Diabetes Association, and is an advisory board member for Abstinence Character Training of West Tennessee.

“I am charged with developing and delivering the school counseling (Character Counts) curriculum in a classroom setting,” Mrs. Yelverton said. “I assist students in the areas of social and emotional development, provide individual and small group counseling in a variety of settings, and consult and collaborate with teachers, staff and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students.”

One way she works with classroom teachers to promote positive development is to develop success skills, decision making, responsibility, self-esteem, attitudes, and behaviors. “We often explore the meaning of effective relationships, communication skills and problem-solving and conflict resolution,” Mrs. Yelverton said. “In addition to delivering the school counseling curriculum in the classroom, I am available for the friendship groups, stop and think groups, and changing families groups. I also can assist the teachers and parents with certain academic assessments and evaluations.”

She views her position at USJ as a way to help improve relationships through communication that is responsive, clear, timely, and inclusive with USJ families, with colleagues, and with the community.

Mrs. Yelverton enjoys the positive environment at USJ: “It is rewarding and exciting to be part of the guiding and development of families in our community.”

In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, boating, and generally doing things outdoors – even yardwork. She and her husband Johnny have three children, Caroline, Maggie, and Franklin. All attend USJ.

Email Kim Yelverton