Jessica Dawdy and Megan Wetrich
Two counselors at Evans Middle School primarily focus on the social emotional needs of their students.
Megan Wetrich and Jessica Dawdy together serve more than 1,000 students. That will change next year when another counselor will be added to the team as part of the districts newest initiative. The result, each counselor will serve approximately 350 students, resulting in more time for classroom instruction. “It will have a huge impact,” both agreed. Serving smaller groups of students will allow the counselors to “build better relationships with kids,” they said.
This week is National School Counseling Week. The week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
"Middle school is a time when students are discovering who they are, where they belong, and learning their role as a student,” said Dawdy.
It's also a time when students are experiencing a lot of changes, according to Wetrich.
Counseling work includes small group and individual sessions. They also greet their students in the morning, oversee lunch, and are on duty at the end of the day. These opportunities allow them chances to connect with their students outside of a formal office setting.
“We also work with teachers to support our students in the classrooms,” said Dawdy.
The two also coordinate several school-wide programs, including bullying prevention, Random Acts of Kindness, quarterly awards, and support the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) program. They also assist classroom teachers in the implementation of the Second Step program. They traditionally host an annual career fair, which was cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
Something new this year is a virtual calming room, a "place" to go on the computer that provides calming activities such as coloring and drawing pages; sounds and soothing music; visual relaxation; puzzles and games; mindfulness activities; guided meditations; live animal cams; and yoga and exercise activities.
“I love working at Evans,” said Wetrich. I look forward to coming to work everyday.”
“I love the community and the kids,” said Dawdy, who is in her second year in Ottumwa. “I love the connectedness of the community.”