Staff writer
Marion Elementary School counselor Kris Burkholder has found herself in a familiar, yet new environment.
Burkholder has lived in Marion and worked in education the past 18 years, but this is her first job at MES.
She has been a teacher at MHS, and counselor at the Hope, Remington, and Herington school districts.
“I’ve always wanted to come back to Marion,” Burkholder said, “because I wanted to work in the community I lived in.”
She also is able to work closer with her children, Chloe, a first-grader, and Calli, a pre-schooler.
“The faculty, staff, and administration have been very supportive,” she said. “There is an excellent group of educators here at the elementary school.”
The job
Burkholder’s position is the first MES has had in seven years, and principal Rod Garman is glad to have her at his school.
“It’s going wonderful,” he said. “Her pro-active approach saves us a lot down the road.”
As K-6 counselor, Burkholder said her job is to provide the students with a one-on-one, group, or classroom-setting, counseling curriculum.
The classroom-setting work, where Burkholder visits each room every other week, has helped her become more visible to students.
“The kids are real receptive because they are in the room,” Garman said.
Burkholder said her teaching background has helped with the classroom aspect of the job.
“I can be more understanding,” she said about the role of teachers.
Garman agreed.
“Her experience is very positive for us,” he said. “She just gets actively involved.”
When she’s not involved in a classroom, Burkholder may have one-on-one or small group time with some students.
A student may be in her office because a teacher sent them, or they may stop in on their own.
While there, Burkholder and the student will talk about how things are going, good or bad, but she is not there to hand out any punishments.
“I’m not the disciplinarian,” she said.
Sometimes a student may just come in for five minutes, and not even talk. He or she can sit in the “safe zone,” and read or listen to music if they are having a bad day.
“If they want to talk about it, we talk about it,” Burkholder said. “If they don’t, I just let them sit there and calm down.”
She also works with small groups of students who are involved in similar situations.
However, the one-on-one work is more common.
At times, a student may come in to share a positive moment with Burkholder.
The counselor is working on trying to make sure that talking to her is not viewed as negative.
“As adults, we have someone we can vent to. It’s the same thing,” Burkholder said. “There is nothing wrong. They’re all normal kids, in normal, everyday situations.’
One way Garman and Burkholder are working on debunking the negative stereotypes of counseling, is by stressing the positives as much as possible.
The school has implemented a character education program, which rewards students who show exemplary character.
If a faculty or staff member sees a student going above and beyond in a certain situation, they will give the student a coupon.
Each coupon, which has the students’ good deed written on it, in entered into a drawing for a traveling, locker trophy.
Every two weeks a K-2 student, and a 3-6 grade student wins the trophy to hang on his or her locker.
The teachers have a similar program that awards a traveling trophy. If one teacher sees another doing something well, they will write up a coupon for their co-worker.
“It’s been great so far,” Burkholder said of the character ed.
Looking into the future
Although just more than a month into her new job, Burkholder is starting to settle in.
She worked in middle and high schools at other districts, but is glad to be back at the elementary level.
She knows MES was the right choice.
“I don’t plan on pursuing any other job in the near future,” Burkholder said with a laugh.
For now she is focused on giving the students of MES a place where they can come and talk about anything on their minds, in hopes it will help them be a better student.
“A big part of my job is [being] a student advocate,” Burkholder said. “My job is to try and help reduce the barriers to learning.”
Garman thinks the barriers are coming down.
“She is serving the students,” he said, “and she is doing good things.”