Contact Numbers Minnetonka High School Guidance Counseling and

Contact Numbers
Make Your Guidance Counselor
Your First Stop to Discuss:
Classes & grades
Getting involved in school
Your four-year plan
Adjusting to school
Scheduling classes
Struggling with classes
Thriving in classes
Getting into college
Peer pressure
Talking with friends or family
Finding someone to talk to
Post-high school planning
Letters of recommendation
Counseling Staff
Brad Burnham (A-Buq)
brad.burnham@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5816
Dan Marek (Bur-Er)
dan.marek@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5818
Theresa Exenberger (Es-Her)
theresa.exenberger@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5824
Jill Walker (Hes-K)
jill.walker@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5819
Mary Beth Wiig (L-Mol)
marybeth.wiig@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5821
Farrah Jennings (Mom-Re)
farrah.jennings@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5817
Keri Brenden (Rf-Str)
keri.brenden@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5823
Kathy Zenk (Sts-Z)
kathy.zenk@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5820
Phil Trout (College Counselor)
collegeguy@minnetonka.k12.mn.us (952) 401-5746
Counseling Support Staff
Appointments & Programs
Mary Jo Clapp (952) 401-5810
Appointments & Enrollments
Peggy Dressel (952) 401-5811
College and Career Center Coordinator
Pam Humphrey (952) 401-5844
Registrar
Pam Berg (952) 401-5815
Transcripts & Scholarships
Sharri Hokanson (952) 401-5813
Department Fax Number (952) 401-5814
Minnetonka High School
2011-12
Guidance Counseling
and
College Planning
Minnetonka High School Guidance Services are
focused on proactive planning and personalization
to ensure smooth sailing through your high school
career and post-high school planning. Each student
and family works with the same counselor during all
four years of high school. From helping you transition
into high school, to developing a four-year plan and
writing recommendation letters, our counselors are
experts in high school and post-secondary planning.
They really get to know their students over the four
years. During the junior and senior year, guidance
counselors also work closely with Minnetonka High
School’s college counselor to provide students every
advantage in the college application process.
Planned Guidance Meetings and Seminars
PARENTS STUDENTS
9th
GRADE
•
•
August 31: Orientation Parent Meeting
October 13: Parent Meeting during Conferences
10th
GRADE
11th
GRADE
12th
GRADE
• December: Parent Meeting regarding PLAN Results
• February 6: Parent Meeting with Introduction to
College Admissions
• October 13: Parent Meeting during conferences
• November 17: Financial Aid Meeting
• December: PSAT Results
• January 30: Post-High School Planning (MHS Arts
Center)
• September 19: College Application Process (MHS
Arts Center)
• November 17: Financial Aid Meeting
* At the end of each quarter, guidance counselors check grades and will
schedule individual meetings with students as needed.
• September 15: Small Group Seminar
• November – December: Individual Meetings
• April – May: Individual Meetings as needed
• September 29: Small Group Seminar
• October 5: PLAN Test
• December: Understanding PLAN Results
• March 8: Career Seminar
• Second Semester: Individual Meetings as needed
• September 27: Small Group Seminar—Family Connection
• October 5: National College Fair for all juniors
• October 12: PSAT Test
• December: Large Group Meeting — PSAT Results
• March 1: Seminar — Post High School Planning
• April-May: Individual Meetings with Parents
• September 13: Seminar — Graduation Credits, College Applications
• September - December: Individual Meetings
• October 19: College Visit Day
• December 20: College Forum

Meet Your
Counselors
brad.burnham@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5816
Brad Burnham (A-Buq)
holds a bachelor’s degree in
philosophy from Marquette
University and a master’s
degree in school educational
psychology from the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
He previously worked with
students in Wisconsin, Illinois
and Minnesota for 16 years. In
2006, Brad received Rising Star
Awards from the Minnesota
and National Associations for
College Admissions Counselors.
In his free time, Brad enjoys
cooking, reading and spending
time with family.
dan.marek@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5818
Dan Marek (Bur-Er)
has served Minnetonka High
School students since 1993.
Prior to coming to MHS, he
worked at a private and an
international high school. His
first degree in college was
music, which he taught for
three years before completing
his graduate degree in
school counseling. He values
spending time with family and
appreciates the opportunity to
positively influence the lives
of others.
theresa.exenberger@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5824
Jill Walker (Hes-K)
joined the MHS faculty in 2006
after completing her master’s
degree at the University of
Minnesota. Before becoming a
school counselor, she worked
in the social service and nonprofit
sector with mentally and
physically disabled individuals.
Jill believes that helping students
use their gifts and talents to
reach their goals is key in both
their academics and personal
lives. Born and raised in
Minnesota, she is the youngest of
six children. She is an avid runner,
loves spending time with her
family and friends, and enjoys the
outdoors, reading, and traveling.
jill.walker@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5819
Theresa Exenberger (Es-Her)
Joined the MHS faculty in 2006, after
four years of counseling students
in South Carolina and Illinois. She
holds a master’s degree in school
counseling from Lynchburg College
(VA) and a bachelor’s degree in
human services with a minor in
music from St. Mary’s-Winona. When
she is not working with students
to make high school a rewarding
experience, she enjoys the violin,
traveling and golf—which she
played in high school and college.
marybeth.wiig@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5821
Mary Beth Wiig (L-Mol) joined
the Minnetonka High School faculty
in 1987 and currently serves as the
MHS Guidance Department Chair. She
holds a master’s degree in counseling
from Minnesota State-Mankato
University and earned her bachelor’s
degree in history from Eastern
Illinois University. Mary Beth was the
recipient of the 2006 Minnetonka
Award for Child-Centered Excellence
in Teaching. Mary Beth is committed
to student success during and
outside of the school day, and also
serves as the Skippers Varsity Softball
Coach. Her passions also include the
outdoors, and she has served as a
summer camp counselor and director
in Maine for 29 years.
kathy.zenk@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5820
Farrah Jennings (Mom-Re)
joined the MHS faculty in 2006
with a master’s degree in school
counseling from Minnesota State
University-Mankato. She holds
a bachelor’s degree in biology
from the University of Minnesota,
and spent several years in the
corporate and healthcare sector
before pursuing her master’s
degree. She is excited to be
helping Minnetonka students
achieve success by discovering
their passions in life. She is a strong
advocate for students, and truly
believes every student deserves
the opportunity to embrace their
interests and discover their many
talents.
farrah.jennings@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5817
keri.brenden@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5823
Keri Brenden (Rf-Str)
hails from California—though
her family now lives in Rochester,
Minn. She holds a master’s
degree in counseling psychology
from the University of Minnesota.
Keri joined the MHS faculty as a
guidance counselor in 2006. She
enjoys helping students work
through the challenges they
face every day. Outside of school,
she spends time with her family,
her friends, and her two dogs:
Hoover and Colette. She likes to
cook, read, and travel.
Kathy Zenk (Sts-Z) loves working with Minnetonka
students! She has been with the Minnetonka School
District for more than 20 years. She holds a master’s
degree in guidance and counseling, and a specialist
degree in educational psychology. One of her primary
interests is post high school planning, and she recently
attended the Harvard Institute on College Admissions.
Outside of school she enjoys photography, travel,
gardening, and playing the piano.
Information for Your College Search
College
Counseling
collegeguy@
minnetonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 401-5746
Phil Trout’s career in College Counseling has taken him to over 400
college campuses. Having worked in both college admissions and private
schools as a college counselor, Phil has unique insights into the college
application process. Phil holds a bachelors degree in English from Amherst
and completed his graduate work in education administration at the
University of Minnesota. He is currently the past president of the Minnesota
Association for College Admission Counseling.
Having joined the MHS faculty in 2007, he is eager to talk with parents
and students about college admissions specifically targeted to students’
individual goals and talents. “The first seven weeks of school—from Labor
Day to MEA break—are a critical time for high school seniors to prepare for
college applications,” he points out.
Aug. 23 7:00 p.m. Top Ten List for College Admissions
Aug. 29 7:00 p.m. Top Ten List for College Admissions
Sept. 1 7:00 p.m. In Search of the Holy Grail: Selective College Admission
Sept. 7 3:30 p.m. In Search of the Holy Grail: Selective College Admission
Sept. 14 7:15 a.m. Admissions in the Big Ten
Sept. 15 7:00 p.m. Admissions in the Big Ten
Sept. 19 7:00 p.m. Senior Parent Night Program
Sept. 26 7:00 p.m. Using the Common Application for Admission
Sept. 27 3:30 p.m. Using the Common Application for Admission
Oct. 3 7:00 p.m. College Admissions for Performing Arts Students
Oct. 4 7:15 a.m. College Admissions for Performing Arts Students
Oct. 10 7:00 p.m Recruiting the Student Athlete
Oct. 13 7:15 a.m. Recruiting the Student Athlete
Nov. 1 7:00 p.m. Five Wonderful Facts About
Community and Technical Colleges
Nov. 3 3:30 p.m. Five Wonderful Facts About
Community and Technical Colleges
Nov. 17 4 & 7 p.m. Financial Aid Program
Jan. 30 4 & 7 p.m. Junior Parent Night Program (Large Aud)
* Sessions are in the MHS Forum or the College and Career Center unless otherwise
noted