Dyer School counselor wins state award

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

Dyer Intermediate School counselor Andrea Donegan loves working with 12- and 13-year-old students.

“Their skills are emerging,” Donegan explained. “I love their energy.”

Donegan’s work as a school counselor was recently recognized, as she was named the Wisconsin School Counseling Association Counselor of the Year at the middle school level.

Donegan was nominated by colleague Jenny Holle – the school counselor at Cooper Elementary School – as well as another teacher at Dyer, a parent and Dyer Principal Joyce Uglow.

“Without hesitation, Andrea leads school and district projects in ways that foster buy-in,” Uglow wrote. “Her colleagues listen when she writes, speaks and/or suggests.”

For Donegan, the award comes after 20 years in the Burlington Area School District. She started at Waller, Winkler and the now-defunct Dover elementary schools, then spent a year at the former middle school.

The 2000-01 school year marked the district’s transition to elementary schools (grades K-4), the intermediate school at Dyer (grades 5-6), and Karcher Middle School becoming grades 7-8.

Donegan, who worked under two different grade configurations in the district, said “whatever you have, you make it work.”

“There are advantages and disadvantages to every configuration,” she said. “I think we have the opportunity to work with this particular age group on their development.

“They’re not to the point of being independent, but they’re not dependent, either,” she added. “We can help them grow. We have an opportunity to take kids at this particular age range and see what they need.”

When Donegan found out she received the award, her emotion was surprise.

“I was honored,” she said. “Humbled.”

The letters of nomination practically glowed.

“Andrea is the utmost professional,” wrote Holle. “She is never satisfied with the status quo. She recently obtained her National Board Certification, which is a great accomplishment in and of itself, but her desire to be the best school counselor she can be does not stop there.”

Holle went on to add that Donegan belongs to several profession-specific organizations.

Another teacher at the school wrote, “Andrea is not only a dedicated school counselor, but she is also a dedicated colleague.”

Donegan said, though, “the award represents everybody, not just me as an individual.

“Every day, every kid, they’re putting their heart and soul into it.”

Donegan is married, and has two students enrolled in Burlington schools.