One of the eight exceptional counselors at Geneva 304, Olivia Bennett manages a caseload for students with last names from Lo-Pam. Her involvement spans various teams, committees, and events, including the Junior/Senior Team, Problem Solving Team, Student Assistance Team, Triangle Team, WIN Day Committee, Week of Giving Committee, Testing Committee, and Technology Committees.
In the Counseling & Advising Office, she supervises and writes grants to sustain the Fueling Station program, which provides snacks to students on the Free Lunch Program or those with financial challenges. Additionally, she secured a grant to create the Calm Corner, a new space in the Counseling & Advising Office where students can take a five-minute break in a safe, supervised location to practice coping skills and emotional regulation to return to class. All items in the Calm Corner were donated or obtained through grants.
Ms. Bennett’s dedication will be recognized in the spring of 2025 as she is a nominee for the Kane County Regional Office of Education’s Educator of the Year award in the category of Student Support Personnel.
Her journey at Geneva 304 began in February 2021 when she filled in during a maternity leave. The following academic year, she was hired full-time to help create and define a new role in the district as the Academic & 504 Counselor for the 2021-2022 school year. In the 2022-2023 school year, she transitioned to school counselor, her dream job, while also training the new Academic and 504 Counselor.
“My favorite part of my job is building relationships with students and helping them navigate their academic and personal challenges. I love seeing students grow in confidence, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals,” she said. “I also love working with my fantastic team in the Counseling & Advising Office and I do not know what I would do without them.”
In her spare time, Ms. Bennett enjoys exploring antique stores in search of treasures like vintage Pyrex and CorningWare. Her other favorite activities include flower arranging, making LEGO sets, and traveling.
She hopes that parents and the community recognize the dedication of the staff to student success. Having worked in multiple other districts, Ms. Bennett believes that Geneva is truly unique, with exceptional staff members who go above and beyond every day to create a positive learning environment where students feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential. She added, “I’m proud to be a member of Geneva 304!”
Ms. Bennett has a B.S. in psychology from St. Ambrose University. She has a master’s degree in educational administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern Illinois University.