Tyler Slattery now works as a counselor at Maize South Intermediate School after deciding to leave teaching. “When I first started teaching I worked really closely with the counselors, I just gravitated towards kids that had behavioral issues,” Slattery said. After spending five years in Maize teaching eighth grade ELA, Slattery made the decision to go back to grad school to get his degree to...

Former Maize High teacher Anne Debes taught English and yearbook for 23 years before transitioning to counseling. She was thrilled to still be working at the same school as a counselor. No day is ever the same or going to go as planned during counseling according to Debes. “You’re going to do so many things in one day, and you can’t control what walks into the door,” Debes said. There...

Jami Weston worked as a fourth and fifth grade teacher for 15 years before transitioning to counseling at Maize South Elementary School. One of Weston’s friends became a counselor and encouraged her to also become a counselor. “She kept talking to me about it and I thought you know what, maybe I am ready for a change,” Weston said. Weston still gets to work in the classroom doing lessons ...

While working multiple jobs outside of school, Katie Shephard is also a Maize High School counselor. The former Spanish teacher says she doesn’t miss anything about teaching. “The things I liked about teaching I still get to do,” Shephard said. She enjoys problem-solving and helping kids learn to advocate for themselves. When working, Shephard says flexibility is a huge part of the job. “I feel like w...