Life's a Journey..... Enjoy the Scenery!
A Little About Me.....
Hi Everyone! I'm Sarah Wills, Guidance Counselor for Spoon River Valley CUSD #4. This is my eighth year at Spoon River Valley and I have loved almost every single second of it!!!! I love the small town atmosphere which allows me to get to know each individual student so that I may further their goals and achievements on an individual basis.
I grew up in Harvard, Illinois, a small town on the Wisconsin border which was mostly a farming community of about 6500 and boasts being the "Milk Capitol of the World"! My family still lives in Harvard so I visit my family and friends there often but especially on Milk Days every June!!!!
I got my Associates Degree from Heartland Community College in Psychology. I got my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Child Development from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, where I lived for 8 years with my family. My son, Mason, is a senior at Spoon River Valley and my daughter, Elliet, is in 5th grade
Before I was a Guidance Counselor, I was a Child Welfare Worker in Bloomington/Normal for 5 years. I was a caseworker and then licensed Foster Homes for 2 years. I loved working with kids but the work was taking so much time away from my family (Elliet was just a baby then). So I decided to go back to school. I got my Master's Degree in Education Counseling and Human Development from Bradley University so that I could still work with children and help them with their troubling situations but allow me time to spend with my own family. I did my yearlong student teaching at Washington Community High School where I also coached cheerleading and was a dance instructor for a local dance studio. I also got licensed as a Nationally Certified Counselor so that one day, if I so choose, I may do counseling on the side.
My family and I moved to the area in December of 2009. I enjoy creating and directing the Valley Youth Theatre. I am also the High School Cheerleading Coach. Go Wildcats! I also currently teach College Introduction to Psychology and College Social Psychology as a dual credit course through Spoon River College through an amazing grant given by the American Psychological foundation. I have a cat named Cullen (Twilight fan!) I love relaxing with a good book and love the sound of waves, so my soul is at peace anywhere near the ocean.
I grew up in Harvard, Illinois, a small town on the Wisconsin border which was mostly a farming community of about 6500 and boasts being the "Milk Capitol of the World"! My family still lives in Harvard so I visit my family and friends there often but especially on Milk Days every June!!!!
I got my Associates Degree from Heartland Community College in Psychology. I got my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Child Development from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, where I lived for 8 years with my family. My son, Mason, is a senior at Spoon River Valley and my daughter, Elliet, is in 5th grade
Before I was a Guidance Counselor, I was a Child Welfare Worker in Bloomington/Normal for 5 years. I was a caseworker and then licensed Foster Homes for 2 years. I loved working with kids but the work was taking so much time away from my family (Elliet was just a baby then). So I decided to go back to school. I got my Master's Degree in Education Counseling and Human Development from Bradley University so that I could still work with children and help them with their troubling situations but allow me time to spend with my own family. I did my yearlong student teaching at Washington Community High School where I also coached cheerleading and was a dance instructor for a local dance studio. I also got licensed as a Nationally Certified Counselor so that one day, if I so choose, I may do counseling on the side.
My family and I moved to the area in December of 2009. I enjoy creating and directing the Valley Youth Theatre. I am also the High School Cheerleading Coach. Go Wildcats! I also currently teach College Introduction to Psychology and College Social Psychology as a dual credit course through Spoon River College through an amazing grant given by the American Psychological foundation. I have a cat named Cullen (Twilight fan!) I love relaxing with a good book and love the sound of waves, so my soul is at peace anywhere near the ocean.