Hello! My name is Dr. Cary Johannes, and I am so excited and grateful to be the student support advocate (counselor) at Kiel Middle School! 

I feel especially fortunate to be part of the Kiel Middle School community because Kiel was already home for my family.  I have had the privilege of being part of this community as a child growing up here, as a parent with two children who attend school here, and now as a member of the staff.

I know that middle school can be an exciting time filled with growth, new friendships, opportunities, and discoveries. It can also come with challenges. My goal is to create a space where every student feels welcomed, heard, respected, and supported. Students can come talk with me about anything that may be on their minds—from friendships and schoolwork to stress, family changes, confidence, or simply having a tough day. I also teach a Careers class for 8th graders. 

I also believe strongly in partnering with families. If you have a concern about your child, want to share information that might help me better support them, or simply want to introduce yourself, I would love to connect. We all share the same goal: helping our students feel successful, confident, and connected.

When I am not at school, I love playing board games with my family, taking our dog for walks, and cheering for the Raiders at Kiel school events. 

I look forward to getting to know each student and family. I hope students will stop by and say hello. My door is open, and I am here to help.

The purpose of a developmental school counseling program is to provide services, resources, and activities that facilitate the academic, personal/social, and career development of all students, as well as assist students in becoming able learners capable of realizing their potentials. It is the responsibility of the school counselor to use educational, community and home resources to foster this development, and to be an advocate for the student's interests, while providing for their overall well-being.

The student support advocate/counselor provides direct services to students through classroom lessons, small group counseling, and individual counseling.  They also provide indirect services to students through collaboration with school staff, community agencies, and parents in order to best meet the needs of ALL students. 

The school counselor/student support advocate visits classrooms multiple times throughout the school year and works with every student during their classroom lessons. Topics of lessons are focused on the three domains of the Wisconsin Comprehensive School Counseling Model: Career, Academic, and Social Emotional. 

At Kiel Middle School we use the Second Step Curriculum for social emotional lessons and XELLO for academic and career exploration

Second Step Classroom

The Second Step curriculum is a widely used, evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed for students from early learning (preschool) through high school. The program aims to build self-regulation, improve school climate, and reduce impulsive behaviors by teaching social-emotional skills. 

Core Skill Areas

The curriculum focuses on teaching several key competencies across all grade bands:

• Empathy and Kindness: Learning to identify, understand, and-respond to one's own and others' emotions.
• Emotion Regulation: Mastering calming-down techniques, managing strong feelings, and handling stress.
• Problem-Solving: Developing step-by-step strategies to resolve conflicts, evaluate consequences, and make safe, fair choices.
• Mindsets and Goals: Building a growth mindset, setting academic and personal goals, and overcoming challenges.

Xello

XELLO is an online college and career readiness software designed for students in grades K-12 to build self-knowledge, explore future pathways, and create actionable plans. 

Key Student Features

• The Dashboard: Serves as the central hub featuring a personalized to-do list, guided roadmaps, and a custom feed aligned with district goals.
• About Me & Explore: Allows students to document achievements, take interactive assessments, and search detailed profiles on careers, colleges, majors, and military options.
• Course Planner & Goals: Helps students map out high school graduation requirements, check course prerequisites, and set realistic milestones.
• Lessons & Missions: Interactive digital curricula that teach essential life skills like financial literacy, decision-making, and career demand.

8th Grade Career Exploration Class

Kiel Middle School 8th grade students also have the opportunity to do more academic and career exploration in their Careers class second semester. They explore a variety of topics to learn about career clusters and career pathways after graduation. They and their families have individual conferences with the school counselor to discuss academic options and extra-curricular opportunities as they prepare for high school.