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School Counselors

Valley Middle School of STEM Counseling Resources

Our school counselors' mission is to promote academic achievement, personal/social growth and career exploration to empower all students to reach their full potential.

Academic Achievement - Our School Counselors are available to work with students, parents and teachers to help students identify and address possible barriers to academic achievement. 

Personal/Social Emotional Growth - VMSS School Counselors are available to meet with students for periodic individual and group counseling. School Counselors also facilitate classroom character educational lessons promoting positive personal/social emotional growth.

Career & Post-Secondary Exploration - Our School Counselors help students explore career & post-secondary paths by implementing classroom lessons at each grade level using Minnesota Career Information System and other resources.  VMSS hosts a Career Fair for 7th grade students each year.

Meet Our School Counselors

john bronson
tracy walberg
jen venz
Every Meal

“VMSS will be partnering with Every Meal - Fighting Child Hunger to provide weekend meals to families in our school community.  Every Meal provides non-perishable food items that students can take home and share with their families over the weekend.  It is free of cost to families and bags of food will be placed in students lockers providing privacy to students.  If you know of any students/families that could use this program, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Venz (jennifer.venz@district196.org, 952-431-8783) or Mrs. Walberg (tracy.walberg@district196.org, 952-431-8312) or Mr. Bronson (john.bronson@district196.org, 952-431-8782) and we will connect with these families.  Thanks and have a great day!”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do school counselors help students?

  • Counselors meet with students for individual and group counseling.
  • Counselors help promote academic achievement and personal/social emotional growth.
  • Counselors provide character education lesson in the classroom to enhance the learning process.
  • Counselors help students establish personal growth and develop future career paths.

How do school counselors help parents?

  • Counselors help parents respond to the challenges of raising adolescents by providing information and support services.
  • Counselors collaborate with parents and staff to address student needs.
  • Counselors assist parents with interpreting assessment results.
  • Counselors connect families to community resources.

How are students referred?

  • Students can make an appointment with their counselor directly.
  • School staff will request a counselor to meet with a student.
  • Parents can call or email the counselors to request a meeting with their child.

 
 

Support Resources

Dakota County Crisis Response call 952-891-7171; National Crisis Text Line text SCHOOL to 741741; Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Please refer to the resources on this page for assistance in dealing with mental health needs. You are encouraged to reach out to your school counselor, social worker, nurse or psychologist for additional support if needed. 

Worried about your mental health:

  • Dakota County Crisis Response: Call 952-891-7171
  • National Crisis Text Line: Text SCHOOL to 741741
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 

Find additional mental health resources to meet your needs

Student Surveys