• Post-Graduation Planning

• College Application Process

• Financial Aid & Scholarship Information

• Student Employment Opportunities

• Scholarships

• Testing & Assessment

• Scheduling Information

• Thorpe Assistance Program (TAP)

• Parchment Transcript Request (Current JTAHS Students)

• Alumni Transcripts & Graduation Verification

• Guidance Documents

• Carbon County College & Technical Education Night

Welcome to the Counseling Department

Mission Statement 

The Jim Thorpe Area School District School Counselors believe the services provided by the department are an integral part of the total educational program. In partnership with our district stakeholders (students, faculty, parents/guardians, business/community partnerships, post-secondary institutions), our school counseling program is designed to provide students with equitable opportunities and access to resources within the areas of academic, post-secondary career planning and personal/social development. Our goal is for the students of Jim Thorpe Area School District to graduate with social/emotional self-awareness, employability skills, and academic abilities that will help them to achieve personal success and develop into contributing members of society.

Counseling Department Staff

The Jim Thorpe Area High School School Counseling Department consists of two full-time certified counselors for grades 9-12 and a full-time administrative assistant.   Our counselors are professional school counselors who meet the state certification standards and abide by state laws.  The administrative assistant is extremely experienced in the policies and procedures within the counseling department.  To assure high quality practices, our counselors are committed to continued professional growth and personal development.  They are actively involved in professional organizations that foster and promote school counseling at the local, state and national levels. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of these associations and promote the development of  the school counseling profession.

Ms. Nichole Burchell
Counselor: Students with last names A-L

Ms. Burchell joined the Jim Thorpe Area High School counseling department in December 2008. Previous to her joining JTASD,  Ms. Burchell was a Behavior Specialist Consultant and Mobile Therapist serving mostly children on the Autism Spectrum and their families. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from East Stroudsburg University and a Masters of Science in Secondary School Counseling from the University of Scranton. 

Mrs. Tricia Klotz
Counselor: Students with last names M-Z

Mrs. Klotz  joined the Jim Thorpe Area High School guidance staff in July 2013. Previous to her joining JTASD,  Mrs. Klotz was a Behavior Consultant with BHA working in the Panther Valley School District. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Temple University in and a Masters of Education in Secondary School Counseling from Bloomsburg University. Mrs. Klotz is a JTASD graduate, and is proud to be working with the students of the JTASD community. 

Mrs. Jennifer Strauss
Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Strauss joined the counseling department in 2017. Prior to her position as the counseling department's administrative assistant, she was a JTASD paraprofessional for 9 years, and was a music educator for the Diocese of Allentown from 2004 - 2008. She received a Bachelors of Science in Music Education from Slippery Rock University.