President
Jennifer Pursh, M. Ed.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Education with a certification in School Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. She has over ten years of school counseling experience, beginning in Allegheny County. In the spring of 2015, Mrs. Pursh filled a substitute position at Kiski Area SD and was hired full time by the district to work at South Primary and East Primary as the K-4 School Counselor. In the summer of 2020, Jennifer moved to the Kiski Area High School to work as a school counselor there.
In addition to her work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage daughters. As a family, they love to travel and will often take spontaneous weekend trips in the summer.
Vice President
Kim Dickert-Wallace
Membership Secretary
Carrie Jones, MA, LPC
Carrie graduated from Seton Hill University with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Art Therapy. She went on to complete her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an Art Therapy Specialization also from Seton Hill. Carrie then worked for Westmoreland Hospital as a Forensic Evaluator/Child Custody where she served as the lead evaluator providing evaluations and consultation to families experiencing high conflict divorce and custody disputes in Westmoreland County. In 2009, she began a private practice specializing in mediation, parent-child reunification, custody evaluations and was the lead educator for the CHILD Program, a court mandated education program for parents involved in custody disputes. Carrie went back to school for her Master's Degree in K-12 School Counseling at California University of PA. She has worked as a school counselor at all levels in Jeannette School District, Elizabeth Forward, Hempfield and Franklin Regional School District where she is currently employed as a High School Counselor. Carrie also holds an Autism Specialist Certification from Carlow University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Carrie enjoys the gym and was a fitness instructor for over 25 years. She also loves spending time and traveling with her husband, Matt, their daughters, Raina and Nina and their two dogs, Starr and Lily.
Recording Secretary
Beth Butala
Beth graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She worked at Adelphoi Village and Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter school serving adjudicated and under-privileged youth for nearly 15 years. During that time period, she earned her elementary education certification as well as middle school math certification. Once Beth began her teaching career, she went back to school for her Master's Degree in Secondary School Counseling from IUP. She served as the RKCS school counselor for nearly 8 years before she became the Career Education Counselor at CWCTC. For 10 years, Beth worked with 10 sending schools to develop and plan their K-12 guidance plans as well as provided educational lessons to numerous classrooms. Beth worked with all the districts in the county during the last 10 years to provide assistance to all in regards to career education and information. She has presented numerous times at the Integrated Learning Conference as well. She has been a WSCA officer for over 12 years as well as the current College and Career fair chairperson. Two years ago, Beth extended her Counseling certification to PK- 12 and is currently taking coursework to earn her Cooperative Education certificate from IUP.
Treasurer
Dennis Gates
Dennis has worked as an elementary counselor in the Yough School District for 28 years. He completed his undergraduate studies at California University of Pa. and did his graduate work at Duquesne University. During non-working hours, Dennis likes to spend his time being outdoors, reading (especially current events,) following politics, refereeing soccer and anything Disney!