Jess Psota has been named the new Director of Counseling for Pius X Catholic High School, incoming CAO Jeremy Ekeler announced on Tuesday. A current school counselor at Pius X, Psota will take over for Shelly Pick, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Psota has dedicated her entire professional life to Catholic education at Pius X. She taught English at the school from 2007 to 2018. She also met her future husband, Pius X Business Teacher and coach Ryan Psota. She earned her Masters of Education in School Counseling from Doane University in 2018 and that same year became a school counselor at Pius X.
“Thinking back to 2007 when I accepted an English teaching position having just graduated college, I could have never imagined all of the blessings I would receive being a part of this community,” Psota said. “I am very grateful to have been mentored by two amazing women and Directors before me, Jan Frayser and Shelly Pick. I want to thank them for their friendship and leadership.”
Psota’s been a part of a counseling department that has helped students thrive academically and be better prepared for life in and after high school. She is co-leading a new initiative, Link Crew, to better help incoming freshmen adjust to high school, and has worked to create resources for students struggling academically and behaviorally to ensure they can still succeed in school. She has also overseen our Pre-ACT and ITBS testing, PLC development, and New Student Open House.
“This school means so much to me,” Psota said. “I am humbled by the opportunity to join the leadership team and excited to make an impact in my new role.”
Ekeler remembers when he realized what a blessing Psota was when they were both English teachers at Pius X.
“Jess’s enthusiasm to help young people and her love for Pius students made her the obvious pick to become our Director of Counseling,” Ekeler said. “This is an important moment as Saint Pius X High School proudly recognizes its legacy and looks toward its future with hope. Jess embodies this – she has deep roots in our community and great ideas about how we can build an even stronger school.”
He continued: “Filling the shoes of retiring Mrs. Shelly Pick is no small matter; she has done tremendous work for our Thunderbolts and I thank her immensely. Part of that work is how well she’s prepared Jess for this next step, and I know our Department of Counseling will continue its excellence.”
