The Garretson School Counseling program supports the school district's mission and vision through the various counseling services offered.

Welcome to Garretson Counselor Corner

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Focus on Student Success

The Garretson School Counseling program is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment that fosters academic achievement, social-emotional growth, and career/college readiness. Programs and counseling services will be tailored to empower every student to identify and remove barriers as they prepare for a successful future.

Parents

Parents are central to the success of our students. The role of the school counselor includes working with and collaborating with parents, teachers and administrators to advocate for our student's needs. This directly correlates to creating a positive and safe school environment for all of our families' students. This is done through open communication, and providing resources and education to help you navigate the school years with your child.

Garreston Middle School and High School Counselor Program

Vision

Assist students in developing their best selves, so they seek to use their unique strengths, skills and interests to help our community and country thrive.

Mission

The school counselor serves every student at Garretson, their families and the community by providing a safe place where students can explore barriers and solutions centering around their distinct academic, social, emotional, college and career goals.

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) ’Ethical Standards’ along with ‘Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success’ provides the guidelines of the school counselor program.

Beliefs

1) All students deserve the right to a quality education, no matter gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

2) Every student has the right to bring their best to school each day and can do so when barriers are addressed.

3) Students thrive when they are in a school climate where they feel safe and know they matter.

4) All students have strengths that can be used to meet goals that are specific and desirable to them.

5) Prevention and intervention programs can enhance student’s strengths and develop new skills.

6) Data can tell a story and identify gaps where additional services are needed.

Mrs. Sherri Matthews

"You will know you're in the right job when you combine your interests, skills, and values to provide services that benefit others and enhance the communities we live in."

- Mrs. Matthews

Mrs. Matthews is the Middle School and High School counselor at Garretson School District beginning with the 2024-2025 School year.

Mrs. Matthews graduated from Capella University with her Master's in School Counseling in June 2024. She previously had received her MBA from Colorado Technical University after graduating from St. Cloud State University with her bachelor's in applied psychology.

Mrs. Matthews has made a career change from being a health insurance representative to her dream career of working with students to pursue their own dreams. Helping them carve a path that not only sets them up for a successful future, but also a career they can be proud of and can reach their fullest potential.

Supporting Student
Well-being

Academic, social, and emotional well-being and Career/College readiness of middle school and high school students are supported through the counseling program at Garretson School District.

Services include:

Individual Counseling

Small Group Counseling

Class Curriculum

Confidentiality: School counselors are legally and ethically obligated to keep what is discussed confidential. There are three exceptions to that rule:

1. if the student is harming themselves.

2. Someone else is harming them.

3. they intend to harm someone else.

If one of those three take place counselors are required to report it to the appropriate adults that can provide additional assistance and support.

Explore Support Services

Services

Individual - one-on-one time to discuss barriers to success at school. Students are provided opportunities to talk through their struggles in a nonjudgemental setting. Autonomy of the student is the main focus.

Small Group -determined by the needs of students. A parent permission slip will be required if a student is identified as benefiting from a specific small group counseling program at school. Examples of potential small groups include; working through anxiety, loss and grief, and developing social skills.

Classroom Curriculum - Preventions and Interventions that all students benefit from. These are developmentally appropriate so will vary by grade level. Examples include anti-bullying, study skills, social skills, college and career readiness such as exploring interests and career clusters.