School Counseling – Colfax-Mingo Community School District

Our Vision Statement

Students act with respect, confidence, empathy and integrity to seek meaningful learning and achieve their highest potential.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission as a comprehensive school counseling program at Colfax-Mingo will be to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to succeed in their future goals and aspirations. Our program will work in collaboration with parents, staff, and the community to lead, educate, and model for our students. In order to provide the best possible services for every student, we will foster meaningful relationships, utilize a multi-tiered system of support, and implement data-driven interventions.

Our Department

Our department is made up of four school counselors. We continually collaborate with each other to ensure that we are providing the best possible education for our students. Contact information for our counselors can be found at the bottom of this page. We have a strong desire for all of our students to succeed in their aspirations past graduation. In order to succeed, we must thoroughly prepare our students academically, socially/emotionally, and in their college and career choices. We have a passion for seeing students achieve, grow, and learn. We believe that the abilities, skills, and knowledge we provide for all students is necessary for them to be successful and impactful members of the community.

What Services Do We Provide?

Classroom counseling lessons at the elementary level which cover interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, as well as career exploration opportunities.
Advisory lessons at the secondary level which cover interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, career exploration, and post-secondary guidance.
Small groups are used to help refine knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable students to succeed academically, socially/emotionally, and in their college and career choice. Small groups may include topics such as friendship skills, self-regulation, stress management, conflict resolution, cooperation, academic success, and more.
Short-term individual planning and counseling may be used when a student is in need of some extra assistance in navigating their academic, social/emotional, or college and career goals. It is important to note that we as school counselors are not mental health therapists, meaning we cannot ethically provide a higher level of assistance/treatment for more intensive mental health needs. In these situations, we refer students and parents to outside resources. A good analogy for our work is that we as school counselors are often a “first-aid kit.” We have tools that help us find quick solutions that can alleviate minor life conflicts. For a deeper and more thorough solution, one would need a “doctor’s office” or “hospital,” which would represent the wide variety of outside resources we refer families to.
- Mental Health & Assistance Resources
Amber Joyce is the 504 coordinator for the secondary level. She collaborate with parents, staff, and area experts to create accommodations for secondary students who have a “physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities” (Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA).

Elementary Counseling

Bree Skow
Elementary Counselor, Available Monday–Friday from 7:40am – 3:40pm
Bree Skow graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in child, adult, and family studies. She then attended Drake University and received her master’s degree in school counseling. She has been a member of the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA) since 2017 and a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) since 2019. She has a passion for helping students succeed and loves to see them learn and grow! In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and spending time with her husband and dog.

Jill Halter
Elementary Counselor, Available Tuesday & Thursday from 7:40am – 3:40pm and Wednesday from 7:40-12:00
Jill Halter graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor of Science in child, adult, and family studies. She then attended Upper Iowa University and received her master’s degree in school counseling. She has been a member of the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA) since 2022 and a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) since 2022. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, playing board games, and spending time with her family.

Go to our K-6 Counseling Page

Secondary Counseling

Amber Joyce
7-12 Counselor (primarily 10th-12th), Available Monday–Friday from 7:45am – 3:45pm
Amber Joyce graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology. She then attended the University of Iowa and received her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Counselor Education (K-12 School Counseling). She initially worked for the Muscatine CSD for 3 years before relocating to become a Tigerhawk! Her passion is helping students find their niche interests and assisting them with mental/emotional growth. She takes pride in her ability to support students of all ages and backgrounds. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three dogs, watching ISU sports, playing and coaching volleyball (and baseball), traveling, and cooking.

Dani Welsher
7-12 Counselor (primarily 7th-9th), Available Monday–Friday from 7:45am – 3:45pm
Dani Welsher graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2017. She worked as a Case Manager for Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc while receiving her master’s degree in Professional School Counseling from Buena Vista University. Dani began her school counseling career as the middle school counselor at Boone CSD for three years. She has been a member of the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) since 2018. She loves the opportunity to get to know her students, advocate for them, and help them succeed. In her free time, Dani likes watching movies, spending time with family/friends (dog included), reading, and going to vintage markets.

Go to our 7-12 Counseling Page