Jen Cort's Home Page

Jen Cort, LCSW-C, SSWS

Director of Student Support Services and Counseling Department Head

301-774-7455, ext. 119

Sandy Spring Friends School has made a commitment to providing preventative support and education on all levels including the student support. It is my absolute pleasure to supervise the Student Support Services program which includes the Health Center, Learning Specialists and Counseling Departments. The members of the Student Support Services believe we are only as good as the partnership between the student, home and school and hope you will call upon us with your questions, concerns and suggestions.

Counseling Support at Sandy Spring Friends School
We are fortunate to have a full counseling department with each division and the dormitory having a full-time counselor. In addition to our ongoing support of students, this year’s focus includes continued work on the development of a PreK-12 spiraling Health and Wellness curriculum and fulfilling the recommendations from the AIMS Committee.

Tim Croft, Lower School Counselor, Tim.croft@ssfs.org, ext. 118
Lauren Keller, Middle School Counselor, Lauren.keller@ssfs.org, ext. 175
Ilene Lees, Upper School Day Student Counselor, Ilene.Lees@ssfs.org, ext. 138
Nancy Preuss, Residential Counselor and Director of Special Projects, Nancy.preuss@ssfs.org, ext. 131
Jen.cort@ssfs.org, Director of Student Support Services and Counseling Department Head, ext, 119

This year, I also have the pleasure of working as the counselor for the PreK class. Throughout the year, PreK parents/guardians will receive parenting tips from me. These are designed to help you in your everyday life, therefore I am always interested in topics of concern to you:
Increasing Your Child's Fine Motor Skills
Organizational Tips

Health Support at Sandy Spring Friends School
We are excited to announce two significant Health Center changes this year. The first is that our Health Center is now located under the Meeting House allowing students to rest in a private space. The second change is that MaryK. Fry joins our staff and spends a majority of her day in the Lower School providing first hand care to the students. Finally, we are pleased to welcome Kathy Bittinger taking part of the administrative support work as Tracey pulls back to finish her degree. Please note that all of our health forms are formatted to be downloaded from the webpage, allowing you to take them with you to your child's yearly physical. You can reach the Health Center at 301-774-7455 ext. 141, please use the following addresses to e-mail the Health Center staff.

Gail Willie, the Health Center Manager
MaryKay Fry, School Nurse
Tracey Richards, Assistant to the Health Center

Academic Support at Sandy Spring Friends School
Sandy Spring Friends School is pleased to have such a talented group providing academic support for it's students. While the support offered from division to division it is provided in a developmentally appropriate manner including speech and language consultation in Lower School, successful scholar classes in Middle School and study skills in Upper School.
Beverley DiTussa, the Lower School Faculty Academic Resource, 301-774-7455 ext. 112
Marjorie Kramer the Upper School Learning Specialist. Marjorie can be located in Moore Hall at ext. 116 or Marjorie.kramer@ssfs.org.
Jane Shaughnessy, the Middle School Learning Specialist, 301-774-7455 ext. 176

Parenting Resources

Lower School
Please see the Parenting Section of this webpage for tip sheets on topics ranging from "Helping Your Child Sleep Better" to "Preadolescence"
Home and School Connection Newsletter
Parents of PreK and K children: Are you looking for advice on creative discipline as your children enter these new stages of life? Childs Play offers free parenting workshops at many of their locations and child care is included.
Want to know more about SPARK?
Book List on a vast variety of subjects for both parents and children

Middle School
Community of Concern as one of many tools for the prevention of substance use and abuse.
The Parent's Association sponsored Robert Roth on Understanding Adolescence. Download the notes from here.
Raising Kids
Girls Health

Upper School
Sandy Spring Friends School welcomes Community of Concern as one of many tools for the prevention of substance use and abuse.

Workshop Notes
Robert Roth on Understanding Adolescence.
Tim Croft and Lauren Keller on Preadolescence

Go back to the SSFS Main page
National Association of School Psychologists
Television Ratings Guide