Meet our Counselors
Anna
My name is Anna Eggers, and I am the High School Counselor at West Central Area Secondary School. I am originally from Rosholt, South Dakota and graduated high school in 2017. I attended South Dakota State University from 2017-2022 where I earned my B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Counseling & Human Resource Development, Specialization in School Counseling. I was a High School Counselor for one year at Watertown School District in South Dakota before joining the West Central Area School District. I became a school counselor because I wanted the opportunity to advocate for youth, while also positively influencing them and watching them grow.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and cat, reading, traveling, and being active.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you! :)
Benett
Hello! My name is Benett Grove and I am the Middle School Counselor at West Central Area Schools! I graduated from WCA, so I know the area well and I am excited to give back to the school district. After I graduated high school, I went to Minnesota State University Moorhead to get my Bachelor of Social Work degree. This is my first year as a school counselor, so I am very excited (and a little nervous) to finally be working in the field! Outside of work, I enjoy playing video games with friends, playing basketball, cycling, and spending time at the lake.
As a school counselor, I want to give students the tools or resources they need to succeed in the classroom and in their personal life. I will also be spending time in the classroom teaching students essential social-emotional skills. I hope to be someone that students can turn to when they want to talk about something, whether it is good or bad.
If you would like to connect, I can be reached at (320)-528-7417 or [email protected]
Morgan
Hello! My name is Morgan McGaffey, and I am the elementary counselor for both North and South elementary schools at WCA. This is my first year as a school counselor, however, I have been a part of this school district my entire life. After graduating from WCA, I attended Minnesota State University Moorhead for my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Special Education. I finished my Master’s degree in School Counseling from Saint Cloud State University. Currently, when I am not in school, I enjoy watching sporting events, spending time with my family, and indulging in overpriced coffee.
My role as an elementary school counselor depends on the need by each and every student. I am fortunate to be in classrooms teaching essential social emotional skills that every student needs twice a month. I also provide small group work to target more specific needs amongst groups of students. Overall, I am that trusted adult that a child can confide in or ask for help when needed.
If you feel that your child would benefit from meeting with me, please reach out by phone (320-965-7619) or email ([email protected]).
________________________________________________________________
Role of
the School Counselor
The West Central Area School District has
counseling services available to students in all elementary, middle, and high
schools. The role of the counselor is to guide, advise, recommend, consult, and
assist with the nearly limitless variety of concerns that students, parents,
teachers, administrators, and the school community may have. School counselors
are vital members of the education team.
The school counseling program at WCA is aligned with the ASCA (American School
Counselor Association) national model. Each school counselor addresses the
three domains of school counseling:
Academic Development
●
Students
will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective
learning in school and across the life span.
●
Students will complete school with the academic
preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary
options, including college.
●
Students will understand the relationship of
academics to the world of work, and to life at home and in the community.
Career
Development
●
Students will acquire the skills to investigate
the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed
decisions.
●
Students will employ strategies to achieve
future career goals with success and satisfaction.
●
Students will understand the relationship
between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work.
Social/Emotional
Development
●
Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes,
and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.
●
Students will make decisions, set goals, and
take necessary action to achieve goals.
●
Students will understand safety and survival
skills.
Counseling offers a means for the student to
grow in knowledge of self and others, thus enabling the student to develop a
sense of responsibility needed to live effectively in the 21st Century. The
counselors' functions are varied as they help students better understand
themselves and the world around them and to be more receptive to learning in
the classroom.
Parents and students are urged to contact the
school counselor to discuss any area of concern.