National School Counseling Week February 5-9
National School Counseling Week highlights the impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. At WLHS, we are blessed to have dedicated Christian counselors in the Student Services department who are focused on getting students ready for life after high school. Counselors offer guidance in the areas of academics, college and career readiness, and mental health.
Hear what our Student Services staff has to say:
Grey Davis, Director of Student Services
Grey Davis, Director of Student Services
A school counseling program provides students equity and resources teenagers need to use the gifts God has given to them for life-long goals. Here at WLHS we view our counseling practices holistically and focus each day as progression forward that will help the next generation of productive Christian ambassadors in the world. Partnering with teachers and families through this process ties the ministry together as we use Christian encouragement and counsel among the Wisco family.
Katie Chavez, School Counselor
It is a blessing to work at a high school that values the entire student's well being. At WLHS our concern goes beyond the academic, college and career planning that a typical high school provides. We invest the resources to ensure that our students develop the resiliency and life skills that are necessary to be able to adapt successfully to any situation-both inside and outside of school. WLHS' investment in our Student Services Department equips us to go above and beyond for each student. My greatest joy in being a school counselor at Wisco is the ability to help a student develop as a whole, and to watch them grow and mature over the years that they are in our care. Being able to use God's Word to openly and freely shepherd and guide students is the cherry on top! School counselors provide specialized training to support students during difficult stages of development. They have the unique skill set to help students identify and remove potential obstacles that hinder their ability to achieve success. I love my job because I get to witness small victories and milestones every day as our students navigate the path and plan that God has set before them.
Pete Schumacher, School Counselor
One of the greatest privileges for me as a Christian school counselor has been my freedom to pray over or with a student in crisis. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress” (Psalm 107:28).
One of my favorite experiences with students is to help them explore their future plans. I like to remind them that God has blessed us with a free will. This allows for many choices, none of them necessarily wrong. In the end, God will get you where He wanted you to be all along, regardless of the choices you made along the way. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Given enough time, I often get to know a student beneath the layers. This can create a very meaningful counselor/student relationship. It is in those deeper relationships that Jesus becomes a welcome friend and confidant in the conversation. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
Sometimes if I listen attentively long enough, I don’t have to say anything during my time with a student. The student sometimes arrives at their own solution just by talking it through out loud. Those are special counseling moments. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
Emily Jiles, School Counselor
My greatest joy in school counseling has always been the students that I get to work with. I love meeting with students and learning about their interests and their hopes and dreams for the future. Being able to help mold and fashion those plans over the high school years to become a reality for students is a distinct privilege. At WLHS we also get to focus on the well being of the whole student. High school can present some challenging situations so being able to work with students to develop life skills in resiliency or problem solving is really an important part of school counseling. The blessing that we have as Christian school counselors is that we get to do all of this while standing on the Word of God. To walk the path that God lays before students, with them — whether good or bad, and being able to point students to scripture to reassure, comfort or guide them is one of the greatest tools that we can use. To see how students learn, grow and mature over the years is so rewarding, especially when you understand the obstacles that have been overcome. I am thankful that I am called to serve students in this unique way at WLHS.
