My name is Dayenin Arellano, and I am pleased to be the new school counselor at Frank Morgan Elementary.  I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a double minor in Spanish and French, and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Professional School Counseling. I am a member of the International Education Honor Society Kappa Delta Pi. 

I am a certified interpreter with the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools where I interact with Spanish-speaking families. I worked as a bi-lingual TA/Clerical Aide at Morgan Elementary facilitating communication between parents and faculty, especially our Latino Community.  I was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Team (CARES) whose goal was to help students and families gain access to remote learning, increase student engagement, and support student needs with resources.

I worked at the Forsyth County Department of Social Services for nine years in the Family and Children's Medicaid Division with a caseload of 860 families. As a caseworker my duties consisted of assessing families, helping them meet their needs, and referring them to other community organizations. I strived to serve the needs of my clients with compassion and ensured that they left my office with a sense of dignity. I spent two years as a child support agent where I developed active listening and negotiation skills. I represented custodial parents in court cases, and one challenging aspect of that position was enforcing support orders for parents who were genuinely trying their best to meet their financial obligations.

During the time I have worked as a bilingual assistant, I have had the opportunity to meet the Morgan community, and I have seen the challenges that many students and their families are facing. Students today are experiencing increased levels of stress, leading to anxiety, depression, and other health concerns. In addition to socio-emotional barriers, many students struggle with low academic performance. I want to help children overcome obstacles to learning, as well as social and mental health issues. I consider myself enthusiastic, empathetic, compassionate, responsible, possess good problem-solving skills, and I have experience working with diverse groups. I am looking forward to a great year!