School Counseling

Our school counselors, Ms. Kristen Peterec, Mrs. Alison Mitchell, Mrs. Cortney Jones, and Mrs. Carra Floyd serve a vital role in maximizing student achievement. School counselors support a safe learning environment, promote student achievement, and address the needs of all students through prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Mission of the School Counseling Department

The mission of the School Counseling Department is to equip all students with academic, personal, and social skills that will lead them to become lifelong learners and independent adults.

Vision of the School Counseling Department and the Counselors

The vision of the School Counseling Department is for every student to graduate with the necessary academic, social, and personal skills to become successful, independent adults.

Role of ACE School Counselors

Mrs. Peterec, Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Jones handle crisis intervention, work with students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom setting. They work to help all students develop skills they need to advocate for themselves emotionally, socially, and academically. Additionally, they collaborate with parents and teachers to help with questions and concerns regarding students’ academic, social, or personal well-being. They coordinate the 504 program and help supervise the Response to Intervention (RtI) Programs. Mrs. Floyd will be advising students about college options, the admissions process, financial aid and scholarships. In addition, Ms. Floyd will help students take the courses they will need in high school to enable a successful transition to college.

Senior High:

Kristen Peterec is ACE’s Dean of Guidance and works with Senior High students in grades 9 - 12. Prior to coming to ACE, she worked as a high school counselor for 12 years, taught junior high social studies for three years, and worked as an elementary counselor for three years. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) and her Master of Science in School Counseling from Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA). She can be reached at [email protected] or at 478-238-5687. For more information and resources, please visit the Senior High Counseling page.

College Counselor:

Carra Floyd is ACE's College Counselor. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 478-238-5757.

Junior High:

Alison Smaha Mitchell is ACE’s Junior High School Guidance Counselor, working with students grades 6 – 8. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from GCSU. She began working as a case manager at the Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services in the Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Training Units, where she worked for six years. After earning her Special Education Certification, she taught at Westside High School for six years. Mrs. Mitchell completed her Masters in School Guidance and Counseling at the University of West Alabama. She worked at Monroe County Middle School for three years. In 2014, she started at the Academy for Classical Education. She can be reached at [email protected] or 478-238-5696. For more information and resources, visit the Junior High Counseling page.

Grammar School:

Cortney Jones joined the School Counseling Department in 2018, working with ACE’s Grammar School students in grades K – 5. Prior to moving into the school counseling role, Mrs. Jones worked in the private counseling setting for three years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia. Later, Mrs. Jones went on to earn a Master of Divinity in Counseling, and completed her Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University. She can be reached at [email protected] or 478-238-5757 ext. 2399. For more information and resources, visit the Grammar School Counseling page.

McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Information:

If your family is temporarily living in any of the following situations:

In a shelter, motel, vehicle or campground
On the street
In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations
Doubled-up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing

Then, under the McKinney-Vento Act, your pre-school-aged and school-aged children in homeless situations have the right to:

Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.
Attend either the school zoned for their current residence or the school of origin (the school the child attended when they were permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), whichever is in their best interest.
Receive transportation to and from the school of origin.
Enroll in school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment such as birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization/medical records.
Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities whil the school arranges for the transfer of records.
Have access to the same programs and services that are available to all other students including transportation and supplemental educational services.
Attend school with children not experiencing homelessness; segregation based on a student's status as homeless is prohibited.

McKinney-Vento eligibility must be reassessed each school year. If your family was served under McKinney-Vento last school year, you will need to complete a new packet of forms to determine eligibility. Please reach out to Mrs. Kristen Peterec at 478-238-5757 for more information.