School Counseling – Colfax-Mingo Community School District

Our Vision Statement

Students act with respect, confidence, empathy and integrity to seek meaningful learning and achieve their highest potential.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission as a comprehensive school counseling program at Colfax-Mingo will be to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to succeed in their future goals and aspirations. Our program will work in collaboration with parents, staff, and the community to lead, educate, and model for our students. In order to provide the best possible services for every student, we will foster meaningful relationships, utilize a multi-tiered system of support, and implement data-driven interventions.

Our Department

Our department is made up of two school counselors and a one college and career and readiness coach. We continually collaborate with each other to ensure that we are providing the best possible education for our students. Contact information for our counselors can be found at the bottom of this page. We have a strong desire for all of our students to succeed in their aspirations past graduation. In order to succeed, we must thoroughly prepare our students academically, socially/emotionally, and in their college and career choices. We have a passion for seeing students achieve, grow, and learn. We believe that the abilities, skills, and knowledge we provide for all students is necessary for them to be successful and impactful members of the community.

What Services Do We Provide?

Classroom counseling lessons at the elementary level which cover interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, as well as career exploration opportunities.
Advisory lessons at the secondary level which cover interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, career exploration, and post-secondary guidance.
Small groups are used to help refine knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable students to succeed academically, socially/emotionally, and in their college and career choice. Small groups may include topics such as friendship skills, self-regulation, stress management, conflict resolution, cooperation, academic success, and more.
Short-term individual planning and counseling may be used when a student is in need of some extra assistance in navigating their academic, social/emotional, or college and career goals. It is important to note that we as school counselors are not mental health therapists, meaning we cannot ethically provide a higher level of assistance/treatment for more intensive mental health needs. In these situations, we refer students and parents to outside resources. A good analogy for our work is that we as school counselors are often a “first-aid kit.” We have tools that help us find quick solutions that can alleviate minor life conflicts. For a deeper and more thorough solution, one would need a “doctor’s office” or “hospital,” which would represent the wide variety of outside resources we refer families to.
- Mental Health & Assistance Resources
Dani Welsher is the 504 coordinator for the secondary level. She collaborate with parents, staff, and area experts to create accommodations for secondary students who have a “physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities” (Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA).

Elementary Counseling

Krista Terlow
Elementary Counselor, Available Monday–Friday from 7:40am – 3:40pm
Krista Terlouw graduated from Waldorf College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Following her undergrad, she worked as a Correctional Officer at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville for several years, where she served as a Hostage/Crisis Negotiator on their Crisis Response Team. In 2019, she decided to make a major shift in her career, and began working at Berg Middle School in Newton as a Behavior Interventionist. She received her Master’s degree in Professional School Counseling in May of 2024, from Buena Vista University. Krista is eager and passionate about providing a safe and welcoming space for all students, and specializes in working with students of at-risk populations. She focuses on the unique needs of each student, including educational, behavioral, family, and social challenges. In her free time, Krista enjoys spending time with her two sons Landen and Carsen, and attending all of their extra-curricular activities and sporting events. Krista also enjoys reading, camping, attending concerts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family as much as possible.

Go to our K-6 Counseling Page

Secondary Counseling

Dani Welsher
7-12 Counselor, Available Monday–Friday from 7:45am – 3:45pm
Dani Welsher graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2017. She worked as a Case Manager for Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc while receiving her master’s degree in Professional School Counseling from Buena Vista University. Dani began her school counseling career as the middle school counselor at Boone CSD for three years. She has been a member of the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) since 2018. She loves the opportunity to get to know her students, advocate for them, and help them succeed. In her free time, Dani likes watching movies, spending time with family/friends (dog included), reading, and going to vintage markets.

College and Career Readiness

Matt Barkalow
Matt Barkalow has served C-M since 2006. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Upper Iowa University, after faculty chose him as Outstanding Senior Student in Education. His CM assignments have included third grade, third/fourth multiage, junior high reading/ELA, secondary instructional coach, at-risk teacher, and began 2024-25 as our College and Career Readiness (CCR) Coach. WHO-TV13 and Nationwide honored Mr. Barkalow for outstanding commitment to students as a Golden Apple Award winner. He is a four-time recipient of the Governor’s Scholar Recognition Program’s Favorite Teacher, presented annually from Iowa’s top graduating seniors. He has been CMHS boys’ track & field head coach since 2007 and has coached 100+ State Qualifying Meet Medalists; including State Qualifiers 29 times, ten State Medalists, and one State Champion. Barkalow coached CMHS football 2007-2023. The NFHS and College Football Playoff Foundation awarded him their Extra Yard for Teachers award, given for “always going the extra yard for students, student-athletes, and Colfax-Mingo CSD.” As an EF Tours group leader, in 2019 and 2023 he traveled across nine European countries with nearly 60 Tigerhawks. Free-time is spent with his wife, their family, and their two grandchildren.

Go to our 7-12 Counseling Page