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Case Management

9th grade: MaryEllen Bethards

10-12 A-GR: Tricia Bursnall

10-12 GS-OL: Kirk Powell

10-12 OM-Z: Julie Batchelder

9th grade IB: Linda Jensen

10th-12th IB: Nola Thomasson, M.A

Case Management is defined as the day-to-day activities that are monitored by counselors. This includes, but is not limited to, credit review, academic advising, supervision and implementation of the schedule and schedule changes, monitoring of academic progress towards graduation requirements, personal counseling, and college/career guidance.

Above, you will find the counselor of record for each student and a link to their web information. Although, it is intended that every student develop a meaningful relationship with their assigned guidance counselor, they may go to any counselor that they wish for advice/personal counseling. In an effort to manage very large caseloads (currently staffed at 375 students per counselor), students are required to conduct all registration activities and schedule changes with their assigned counselor. 

Students in the regular curriculum have the one counselor for 9th grade. 

Students in the regular curriculum have one of three counselors for 10-12 grades. These are divided by alphabet. 

Students in the International Students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program have one of two counselors depending on grade level Baccalaureate (IB) Program have one of two counselors depending on grade level.

Group Counseling

Group counseling is done on an as needed basis, when counselors determined that a significant amount of students require the same type of counseling or support. Counselors are reluctant to pull students out of class for the purpose of counseling and usually run groups on a rotating period basis (ex. Period 1: week 1; Period 2: week 2; etc.) Please contact your son/daughter’s counselor for current groups.

Personal Counseling

Counselors at Palmer High School offer personal counseling to a limited extent.

Students may go to any counselor that they feel comfortable. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the counseling secretary during a free period, study hall, or lunch period. We do not encourage students to miss their assigned classes.

Counselors are school counselors and not therapists. With caseloads that exceed 375, they are only able to spend limited time with an individual student. This usually involves short-term personal counseling and academic counseling.

Crisis counseling will be conducted by whichever counselor is free to see a student. The primary choice will be the student’s assigned counselor, if available.