Head counselor Jennifer Watkins leads her team of seven counselors, who focus primarily on efficiency, guidance and students’ success. When stepping into the role in 2023, Watkins made it a priority to make counseling services run smoothly so students can receive the help they need.
”One of the successes that I have been working on is giving my team more time with students,” Watkins said.“My biggest hope is that this job takes part off of them so they can spend more time with students.”
Watkins leadership allows the counseling team to spend more time with students, providing moral support and contributing what she has to give for her counseling team of seven.
Before becoming head counselor, Watkins began as an elementary music teacher. Her passion for teaching and guiding students became a big part of her life. She later pursued an administrative specialist degree to further her work in education and student services.
Even though Watkins has no plans to stop being a head counselor anytime soon, Watkins says she’ll never stop looking for ways to grow.
“I always want to accomplish my goals and the challenges in my current spot and then be able to move onto something else. But this is what I wanna retire from doing,” Watkins said.
To Watkins, the title “Head” counselor doesn’t make her feel superior and as if she completely runs over her counseling team. To Watkins, it means support and the teamwork that comes with.
“I see my role more as a support than a dictator. I want them to do what they love daily,” Watkins said.
Guiding students, providing moral support to her counseling team, the teamwork, the challenges, but the accomplishments that come with her job as a head counselor mean more to Watkins.
“It goes back to those relationships that I was able to build, and the way I was able to reach and love kids regardless of what my job title was,” Watkins said.
