May 14, 2013 Mental Health Support Group Click the link for details about the May 14th support group for family and friends of people with mental illness.
Welcome to the Geneseo High School Counseling Website. Please use these pages and links to assist you with locating monthly guidance newsletters, scholarships, tools for career and college planning, high school course planning and sequencing, social/emotional resources, and other links that are available for your use and are full of helpful information.
Please come and visit the counseling office or make an appointment as your school counselors are available for assistance. The Geneseo High School counselors are:
| Counselor | Students Served | Office Phone Number | |
| Linda VanDerLeest | A-F | 945-0308 | |
| Cheryl Ewert | G-O | 945-0307 | |
| Patrice Johannsen | P-Z | 945-0306 |
| Melanie Rice | Social Worker | 945-0322 | |
| Denise Rushing | Secretary | 945-0313 |
About GHS Counselors
Miss Cheryl Ewert
Miss Ewert is a 1970 graduate of Geneseo High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL and later went on to receive her Masters in School Counseling from Loras College in 1977. In 1989, Miss Ewert completed her Masters in Business Administration from Saint Ambrose University located in Davenport, Iowa.
Mrs. Patrice Johannsen
Mrs. Johannsen received her Bachelor of Arts in Education and French from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. She began her career teaching a year of 5th grade social studies and science at Jordan Elementary, followed by 21 years teaching French at Alleman High School and earning a Masters degree in Education from Western Illinois University. After earning a Master of Science degree in school counseling, Mrs. Johannsen served the students at Morrison High School for 6 years as the counselor, Tech Prep coordinator, high school liaison to Sauk Valley Community College, district strategic planning team member, dual credit facilitator, and high school curriculum planning team member.
Mrs. Johannsen has been a counselor at Geneseo High School since the fall of 2007. She serves the students whose last names begin P through Z and is the liaison for GHS students who want to pursue dual credit courses at Black Hawk College. Mrs. Johannsen is also responsible for updates to the counseling web pages and coordinates the Career Cruising program with the GHS faculty.
Miss Linda VanDerLeest
Miss Van Der Leest received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. She began her career teaching physical education, health, and psychology at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling, Illinois. During the 11 years she was at Newman, Miss Van Der Leest coached volleyball, basketball, golf, track and field, was the asst. athletic director, crisis reaction team coordinator.member, homecoming and alumni event coordinator. She was also an IHSA volleyball and track & field official. After earning her Masters in Education degree in school counseling from Western Illinois University in 1991, Miss Van Der Leest made the move to Geneseo High School. Miss Van Der Leest serves the students whose last names begin A through F. Some of the duties that Miss Van Der Leest has been a part of while at Geneseo include: Community Service Class co-cordinator, high school liaison to Black Hawk Community College, high school curriculum planning team member, department chair, GEA President, assists in establishing local scholarships, helped establish mentoring program for new teachers, and was a member of the group that established the crisis management plan for the school district. Miss Van Der Leest has also coached softball, basketball and golf at Geneseo High School.
Mrs. Melanie Rice
Mrs. Rice received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University in 1989. In 1991, she received her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a Specialization in Schools and her Type 73 Certificate.
She began work in the Geneseo School District in the fall of 1991. She has been a Field Supervisor for social work interns since 1994 for the University of Illinois, University of Iowa and St. Ambrose University Graduate Programs in School Social Work.
During the first 15 years of her school career, she had spent her professional time in the Geneseo elementary schools and began working at Geneseo High School during the 2006-2007 school year.