YOUR COUNSELORS
WHO ARE WE?
TELL US YOUR STORY:
Mrs. Jesienouski,
6th Grade Counselor
Mrs. Jesienouski, a.k.a. Mrs. J, has been a counselor for the past 12 years.
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This is my 9th year at Lava Ridge Intermediate School. There is no better place for students to achieve academic, social and personal success! We believe in doing what is best for students!
Before coming here in 2015, I worked as the counselor at Coral Canyon Elementary School. I have worked in schools and counseling centers for more than 20 years. I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Southern Utah University and a Master's of Educational Psychology emphasis in School Counseling from the University of Utah. I love working with students of all ages and helping them succeed!
My hometown is Holden, Utah. I graduated from Millard High School where I played volleyball, was a member of the Drill Team & Academic Decathlon and served as a Sterling Scholar. I was a total nerd who loved learning and taking tests! What?!
Favorite Movie(s): Star Wars, Marvel movies, Pride & Prejudice, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, ALL Western movies especially if they have John Wayne in them. What am I saying...I love ALL movies!
Favorite Book(s): Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Outlander, Harry Potter Series
Favorite Musician: Katie Perry, James Taylor, Maroon 5
Favorite Food: Seafood!! Especially shrimp and lobster! Pickles and olives! And keep me away from Costco's Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts!!! I would eat them ALL!!
Hobbies: I love to read, crochet, work on home improvement projects, and spend time with my family. I also love to travel. My favorite places have been Oahu, Hawaii; Ibigawa, Japan, Puerto Rico & Washington DC. I've recently started playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild....so fun!
Why I Love Being a Counselor: The world offers so many difficult challenges to kids today and they need all the support they can get. I love helping students recognize that the hard things in life are only temporary. Everyone has the ability to rise up and realize their potential and develop their dreams. My motto is: I love you and I care about you! You will hear me say it A LOT!
Mr. Lounsbury-Decker
7th Grade Counselor
Mr. Lounsbury-Decker, aka Mr. LD, has been a counselor for 12 years.
I am very excited to be joining Lava Ridge Intermediate for my fourth year.
I have worked as a counselor at Dixie High School for four years and before that, I was at Midvale Middle School in Salt Lake County where I worked with students in grades 6-8. I am thrilled to be back with this age group.
I graduated from Pine View High School and then went on to receive my associate degree from Dixie State, my bachelor of science emphasizing in social studies with a secondary education license from SUU. I then actually attended the University of Utah with Mrs. J earning a Master’s of Education degree emphasizing in School Counseling.
I am married to a wonderful woman who attended Lava Ridge long ago and we have three cute, fun, and exhausting boys.
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Favorite Books Ever: Les Miserables, East of Eden, Lord of the Rings, Sapiens, The Overstory
Favorite Musicians: Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Joe Srummer, folk, classic rock, punk rock.
Favorite Food: love all foods, pizza, lasagna, chile rellenos, and Thai are probably my very faves. For snacks, I enjoy chips, nuts, donuts.
Hobbies: reading, video games, nature, hiking, traveling, family, spirituality
Why I LOVE being a counselor: The students. My personal mission statement as a counselor is to help you be as happy and successful as possible anyway I can.