Staff Spotlight: Emily Jetter
Emily Jetter serves as WSM's K-8 school counselor and is passionate about reducing the stigma around mental health and integrating students' interests with therapeutic techniques.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your
dreams, and your hobbies.
dreams, and your hobbies.
This is my fifth year at West Side Montessori. I received my Master’s Degree in School Counseling from BGSU and later completed an Autism Spectrum Disorders graduate program. I love going on nature walks with my husband and two kids as well as planning fun themed days that often involve family costumes. Thankfully, my husband is a great sport like dressing up as a shark for Shark Eeek in July. I am from Cincinnati and spend my Sundays watching the Bengals while usually enjoying Skyline Chili and Graeter's Ice Cream.
What inspires you the most in the Montessori environment?
What I love about the Montessori environment is that it honors and teaches the whole child, which includes their social and emotional development. That development is truly valued here and is evident throughout classrooms and is taught by teachers.
What is the most important life lesson you'd like to share with your students?
A life lesson I’d like to share with students is that it’s okay to seek help and support. I have received counseling services myself and while seeking that support can elicit a variety of feelings, shame or embarrassment do not need to be one of them. I convey this during time with students by doing all that I can to reduce the stigma and working to make my time with students align to their interests. I rarely do the stereotypical sit down and just talk meetings with students because that would not be comfortable for most people! Whether it is through walking, playing Barbie's, using art, or even playing soccer I will try to find ways to integrate students’ interests with therapeutic techniques.
What would you tell a prospective family about WSM?
I would want a prospective family to know that WSM has a very supportive Student Services Team. The Directors, Kathy and Morgan, along with Laura, Fran, Sheryl, and myself all collaborate with one another to discover ways to best help students. Whether it is for mental health, speech and language, reading, or math services, the team works not only with one another, but with teachers and families to assist students.
What inspires you the most in the Montessori environment?
What I love about the Montessori environment is that it honors and teaches the whole child, which includes their social and emotional development. That development is truly valued here and is evident throughout classrooms and is taught by teachers.
What is the most important life lesson you'd like to share with your students?
A life lesson I’d like to share with students is that it’s okay to seek help and support. I have received counseling services myself and while seeking that support can elicit a variety of feelings, shame or embarrassment do not need to be one of them. I convey this during time with students by doing all that I can to reduce the stigma and working to make my time with students align to their interests. I rarely do the stereotypical sit down and just talk meetings with students because that would not be comfortable for most people! Whether it is through walking, playing Barbie's, using art, or even playing soccer I will try to find ways to integrate students’ interests with therapeutic techniques.
What would you tell a prospective family about WSM?
I would want a prospective family to know that WSM has a very supportive Student Services Team. The Directors, Kathy and Morgan, along with Laura, Fran, Sheryl, and myself all collaborate with one another to discover ways to best help students. Whether it is for mental health, speech and language, reading, or math services, the team works not only with one another, but with teachers and families to assist students.
Toledo Campus
Perrysburg Campus
West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.