High School Guidance Office :

Welcome to the Geneseo High School Counseling Website. Please use the Navigation Bar on the left side to assist you with scholarships, career and college planning, high school course descriptions and sequencing, and other links that are available for your use and are full of helpful information.

For the most current updates and news from our counselors click on this Newsletters link.

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:

Melanie Rice	Social Worker	945-0322	Email
Denise Rushing	Secretary	945-0313	Email

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.

For 14 years Miss Ewert worked in colleges in the departments of residential life, student services, counseling as well as career guidance. She previously worked at Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL for eight years where she was the Director of Guidance Counseling.

Miss Ewert came to Geneseo High School in August of 1999 and serves the students with the last names of H thru P. She is in charge of the vast majority of testing which include AP tests, the PSAE and the ACT. In addition, she is the coordinator of career exploration units with the English Department for freshmen and sophomores.

Mrs. Patrice Johannsen

Mrs. Johannsen serves the students whose last names begin with P through Z.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College Mrs. Johannsen taught French for 21 years at Alleman High School. With a Masters of Science degree in school counseling from Western Illinois University she was the guidance counselor at Morrison High School for six years before coming to Geneseo in 2007.

Mrs. Johannsen is the Geneseo High School liaison to Blackhawk College. She assists GHS students who are interested in taking college courses at the high school to earn credits towards their high school diploma and a college degree at the same time.

Miss Linda VanDerLeest

Miss VanDerLeest serves students with last names beginning with A thru F. Miss VanDerLeest was awarded her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she majored in Physical Education and minored in Health. She spent the first 11 years of her career at Newman Central Catholic High School, in Sterling, IL. While at Newman, Miss VanDerLeest taught Physical Education and Health, was the Student Council Advisor, Girls Basketball, Volleyball and Track Coach. She was also the Assistant Atheletic Director and Counselor during her final four years at Newman.

After obtaining her masters degree in Counselor Education from Western Illinois University, Miss VanDerLeest relocated to Geneseo in 1991. While in Geneseo, she has coached in the Girls Basketball and Softball programs. She also serves on the Negotiation Team for GEA and the newly developled Academic Mentor Team. She worked to also help establish the Community Service Program. In cooperation with Black Hawk College, Hammond Henry Hospital, Melinda Wildermuth, Geneseo District 228 and Julie Fiers, Miss VanDerLeest was able to be part of the first Certified Nursing Program for high school students. As Department Chair, Miss VanDerLeest also works closely with the Curriculum Committee, Honors Program and Black Hawk Articulation.