Lois J. Gray, College of Education, 319-335-5347

It’s time for students and parents to go from thinking about vacationing and backpacking to ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date and buying backpacks and school supplies.
The University of Iowa has a number of sources who can provide expert insights on everything from how find a backpack that won’t create back injuries and developing better sleep habits to understanding the vital role of school counselors and how to work with them in making the back-to-school transition a smooth and successful one.
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RESOURCES FOR K-12
Expert: Susannah Wood, associate professor in the UI College of Education. Wood teaches both doctoral students and students who are pursing a master’s in school counseling with an emphasis in gifted education in partnership with the UI Connie Belin and Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talented Development.
Expert contact: susannah-wood@uiowa.edu, 319-335-5050
While specific duties depend on the building level, school counselors perform a variety of important tasks in August through October. These include:
But parents and family members don’t have to wait for those specific times to contact their school counselor. The American School Counselor Association recommends meeting with school counselors at least three times a year. A great relationship with the school counselor can go a long way, Wood says. School counselors may have the same students for more than one year, depending on the building level and their assignment. This extended time allows for deep relationships between students, counselors, teachers, and family members.
Expert: Deborah Lin-Dyken, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at UI Children’s Hospital and pediatric sleep specialist
Expert contact: deborah-lin-dyken@uiowa.edu or 319-384-9261
Lin-Dyken’s tips to help get kids on a sleep schedule:
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Expert: Stuart Weinstein, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at UI Hospitals and Clinics; and professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation, UI Carver College of Medicine; past president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Expert contact: stuart-weinstein@uiowa.edu or 319-356-1872
Weinstein recommends:
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Expert: Patricia Winokur, professor of internal medicine and director of the UI Vaccine Research and Education Project
Expert contact: patricia-winokur@uiowa.edu or 319-356-3909
Winokur recommends:
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Expert: Brian Wolf, associate professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation
Expert contact: brian-wolf@uiowa.edu or 319-353-7954
Wolf recommends:
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Expert: Marizen Ramirez, assistant professor, UI College of Public Health
Areas of expertise: Bullying, school-based injuries and violence.
Expert contact: marizen-ramirez@uiowa.edu or 319-335-4425
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