Counseling and Social Work
Meet the Counselors!
Mr. Daniel Ortiz
Phone: 708-222-3080 x4020
Email: dortiz@jsmorton.org
My name is Daniel Ortiz and I am happy to support and advocate for students as the school counselor at Morton Alternative. I earned my Bachelor’s from Northern Illinois University (Go Huskies!) and received my Masters in School Counseling from Concordia University Chicago.
My journey as an educator began as a high school Spanish teacher with the Chicago Public Schools, and I later transitioned to a high school counselor role. Another stop on my journey gave me the opportunity to work in higher education at City Colleges of Chicago- Truman College. It was a valuable experience working with college students as a college advisor and is helpful now as I assist students with planning for their transition to college.
As a first generation college graduate growing up in Chicago, I can relate to many of the challenges that first generation students face. I want my students to know that they too can persist and achieve the goals that they identify for themselves. I am excited to partner with students and parents to maximize their success at Morton and in their post secondary plans.
Maricela Venegas
Phone: 708-222-3080 x4020
Email: mvenegas@jsmorton.org
My name is Maricela Venegas and I am thrilled to be working as a school social worker at Morton Alternative. With a solid foundation in social work, I completed my undergraduate degree at Concordia University Chicago and earned my Masters of Social Work from Aurora University.
My passion for supporting and empowering students stems from my belief that every child deserves an environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. I am dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive school community that promotes the well-being of all students.
I have had the opportunity to work with diverse populations and engage in various aspects of social work. These experiences honed my ability to assess the unique needs of individuals and develop tailored interventions to facilitate positive growth.
As a dedicated and compassionate social worker, I am committed to advocating for students' rights, connecting families to necessary resources, and supporting both the academic and personal development of our school community.
I am truly excited to be a part of Morton Alternative and look forward to making a difference in the lives of our students. Please feel free to approach me with any concerns or questions.
Stephanie Davila
Phone: 708-222-3080 x4028
Email: sdavila@jsmorton.org
My name is Stephanie Davila, and this is my first year as a social worker at Morton Alternative. I earned my Bachelor’s and Masters from Northeastern Illinois University and my school social work endorsement from Dominican University.
Prior to MAS, I was a child therapist at a school in Brighton Park for children in grades PreK- 4th. The experiences there captivated my desire to further my education and pursue school social work.
Being a social worker is important to me because I think that school needs to be a safe and equitable place where everyone can succeed. Learning from, about, and with students is the best job and I’m privileged to do it! My role at MAS is to provide direct services to students like individual/group support and as well as crisis intervention. I also promote a positive & welcoming school culture & environment for all students.