MADISON - School counselors Sam Dusek, Gary Campbell, and Jordan Seifert at Meyer Middle School in the River Falls School District are being recognized with the 2025 Wisconsin School Counseling Team Award. This award is meant to recognize a school counseling team who works together to go above and beyond to meet the personal, career, and academic needs of their students. Dusek, Campbell, and Seifert will be recognized in November 2024 at the Wisconsin School Counselor Association’s Annual Conference, which takes place in the Wisconsin Dells.

Meyer Middle School’s mission states: “We are collectively committed to the academic growth, character development and well-being of every student, every day.”

Principal Mark Chapin said, “Through their advocacy, leadership, systemic change and collaboration, the counseling department at Meyer Middle School is helping us live out our mission by making a difference for ALL of our students.”

Dusek, Campbell, and Seifert have built a school counseling program that is robust in supporting their students. Principal Chapin added that, “In addition to running 14 groups, providing individual counseling sessions, teaching classes, collaborating weekly and providing a safe space for students in our ‘chill room,’ our counselors have written numerous grants that align with our school’s mission. In total, our counseling department has received over $9,300 in grant money over the past four years.”

Chapin summarized the team by stating, “Our counseling department serves an invaluable role at Meyer Middle School by going above and beyond to meet the needs of ALL of our students through their proactive approach, leadership, advocacy and collaboration. Most importantly, it is the integrity and character of our department that makes all the difference… It is clearly evident to me, our students, parents and staff that our counseling department has a BIG HEART. Collectively, it is their professionalism, hard work, compassion and empathy that truly makes all the difference. It is for all of these reasons that I proudly nominate the Meyer Middle School Counseling Department for this award.”

Every year, the Wisconsin School Counselor Association recognizes individuals within the school counseling profession who demonstrate profound impact on the school counseling profession and lives of students. Nominations for the School Counseling Team Award are submitted to the Wisconsin School Counselor Association Professional Recognition & Scholarship Committee and are rated by a committee of active and retired school counselors. Award recipients are determined based on their contributions to the school counseling program, leadership, and service to their community. The organization selects one school counseling team to receive this award. About the Wisconsin School Counselor Association School Counselors are essential to the lifelong learning and success of all students. Our vision is for Wisconsin to be the model for excellence in equitable school counseling practice, exemplified by the advocacy, leadership, and expertise of the members of the WSCA. Focused on providing quality professional development opportunities, supporting comprehensive school counseling programs, and giving one voice to professional school counselors, WSCA is dedicated to empowering school counselors throughout the state. For additional information about WSCA, visit www.wscaweb.org

Submitted by School District of River Falls