Counselor's Corner
Meet the Counselors!
CPS Counselor:
Gail Massa
M.A. School Counseling
CIS Counselor:
Ashley Cherry
MSW
Miss Massa
Welcome! My name is Gail Massa and I am so excited to continue to be apart of the Central Family for the 2021-2022 school year! I graduated from Lewis University with my Masters in School Counseling in May 2020. I am originally from the Chicagoland, but recently bought a house in the Peoria area. I am so excited to continue to get to know and work with each and every student at Central Primary School. I will have the privilege of working with students through classroom lessons, small group counseling, and individual counseling. I strive to collaborate with school staff and parents in order to best meet the needs of each individual student. Our website provides referral forms, our contact information, as well as resources for parents, students and staff. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or just to say hello!
I look forward to meeting you!
Miss Massa
Click to find out more about my role as an Elementary School Counselor: The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors
A little about me:
Last summer, I adopted a sweet pup named Ivy!
I love to watch hockey, especially the Chicago Blackhawks!
I am the oldest sibling of three! I have a sister, 23, and a brother who is a sophomore at Iowa State!
Fun fact: I was a camp counselor two summers ago for PALS, a camp for individuals with Down Syndrome.
Mrs. Cherry
Hello! My name is Ashley Cherry and I am so excited to be the CIS counselor/social worker for the 2021-22 school year! I received my Masters Degree in School Social Work in 2004 from SIU-C. After working in Effingham as a school social worker, my husband's job took us to Connecticut for several years then to Houston. We moved to Washington in 2014 and have two children that attend Central Intermediate.
What does a School Counselor do?
Individual counseling
Grade level lessons
Small groups
Parent workshops
Career exploration
Academic support
Collaboration
Behavior intervention
Crisis Response
School-Wide initiatives
Why do kids need counseling?
Children do their best when they feel confident in themselves and in their relationship with others
Learning to understand their feelings helps children control their emotions better
Stress can effect focus and learning and the affect of stress can be reduced if children have strategic coping skills
Collaboration between schools, parents, and communities prove to provide the most effective support to children
Students form attitudes while in school that can shape their future attitudes towards learning, their self, and their society.
Let's chat! Contact information:
CPS Counselor:
Email: gmassa@central51.net
Phone Number: 309-444-3580 ext. 1201
Instagram: cps_schoolcounselor
CIS Counselor:
Email: acherry@central51.net
Phone Number: 309-444-3943 ext. 1440
