Counseling Corner: Get to know the Willowbrook Guidance Department

The Willowbrook Guidance Department provides a four-year comprehensive program that works to support Willowbrook students.

It is proactive and developmental in that it addresses a student’s unique needs during his or her particular year in school. Willowbrook is a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) school, which is a prestigious, research-based recognition given to school counseling departments on a national level from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). A RAMP-designated school counseling program must demonstrate a comprehensive, data-driven program that meets the needs of all students, and the designation is awarded for three years. There are fewer than 500 schools in the U.S. (and only 36 in Illinois) that have received the RAMP designation.

Counseling services
All Willowbrook students are assigned a counselor (see caseloads and specialty areas below), who will move with them from grade to grade. The counselors are advocates for each student in the school and collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure each student has an enriching high school experience. Services include:

  • Short-term counseling
  • Group counseling
  • Developmental curriculum in the areas of academics, college and career and social-emotional
  • Assisting students with establishing personal goals and developing future plans
  • Community referrals
  • College/career counseling
  • Assisting students with problem solving and decision making
  • Academic and course planning
  • Consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers and community organizations to meet the needs of students
  • Managing 504 plans and student records

Meet the Willowbrook counseling team
LeVar Ammons (Caseload: A-D): Career Programming Coordinator; Sophomore Programming Coordinator

Cindy Zamora-Failla (Caseload: E-J): Testing Coordinator - ACT, AP, PSAT; Sophomore Programming Coordinator

Lourdes Pina (Caseload: K-M and English as a Second Language): Freshmen Programming Coordinator

Scott Forcash (Caseload: N-S): Freshmen Programming Coordinator; Scholarship Coordinator; NCAA Coordinator

Cathy Bendicsen (Caseload: T-Z): Director of Guidance; Homeless Liaison

Kimberly Mikesell: ACHIEVE Program Counselor

Carmen Avdiu: Special Education Counselor

Dana Whittaker: Community Outreach Counselor; College Programming Coordinator

Steven Kallaus and Brendan Koch: Counselor interns