Before Mrs. Davis ever stepped into a K–12 school as a counselor, she had started her career in the world of higher education. In fact, her first professional path took place at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, where she worked as a Financial Aid Counselor and Scholarship Coordinator. She spent ten years on the UWP campus. Mrs. Davis completed four years at UWP to earn her four-year bachelor’s degree. Even before graduating, she had worked in the financial aid office as a work‑study student for three and a half years, which helped her step into her first full‑time job just six months after finishing college. During this time, she lived in Platteville and built a strong foundation in helping students navigate their futures.
Her career shift didn’t just happen suddenly. While working on her master’s degree, she met the dean of the counselor education department, who encouraged her to consider the school counseling track instead of the community counseling route she originally had in mind. After completing a practicum experience with students in grades K–12, she realized how much she loved the school environment. That experience ultimately pushed her to change career paths.
Becoming a school counselor required an additional two to two and a half years of graduate school. At that point in her life, Mrs. Davis was balancing a lot; she was married, raising two young children, working full‑time, and attending night classes. She had to make major adjustments to keep everything moving, but she stayed committed to her goal.
After starting her school counseling career in the Argyle School District, Mrs. Davis found herself at a turning point when her family needed to relocate to Indiana for her husband’s job, which meant she needed to obtain a new counseling license for that state. While living there, she worked for the second‑largest online school in the United States, Indiana Connections Academy, and later transitioned into a different role during her final year in the state. Even while settled in Indiana, she kept an eye on job openings back in Wisconsin. When she noticed a posting for a counseling position in Potosi, she decided to submit an application, opening the door to a new opportunity in her career.
Looking back, she has no regrets about her decision. If anything, she wishes she had started the journey sooner. Although she once considered working in a community counseling or therapy office, her time in schools has shown her where she truly belongs. The atmosphere, the students, and the daily energy of school life made her fall in love with the profession.