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New Counselors Join the Staff at Watauga


One of the two new counselors at Watauga High School: Kara Edwards.


Now that the 2022-23 school year has kicked off, students may notice a few changes. One of these changes is counselors and administrators. Not only is there a new system of organization, but there are also two new counselors at Watauga: Molly Welch and Kara Edwards.


Most returning students may remember that last year students were assigned a counselor and administrator by grade level, but this year there is a new organizational system for school counselors. This new system now organizes counselors and administrators by last names as opposed to grade level.


Dr. Rachel Shepherd explained the reasoning behind the switch, and how the school expects the change to help students in their high school careers.


¨We had a couple different reasons behind it. We have done a lot of research,” Shepherd said. “The first reason is because it allows us to kind of know what's going on. Previously we had sort of been siloed.¨


The new counselor system is an attempt to make students' careers in high school more fluid and cohesive, as opposed to switching between counselors and administrators each year.


“It allows us to follow kids all the way through high school and be with the same kids we are going to be with for the next 4 years,¨ said Shepherd.


The counseling system before caused students to have to switch counselors every year. This new system will hopefully help counselors develop a better relationship with the students through all 4 years of high school.


Counselors Molly Welch and Kara Edwards are excited to start the new school year and ready to help the students.


Molly Welch is the new S-Z counselor. She has moved from the Pacific- Northwest to the mountains. This year she hopes to get to know students and help them grow through their high school careers.


¨I've always loved the mountains of North Carolina so I'm excited to have relocated here to Boone!” Welch said. ¨Before becoming a school counselor I worked in the Athletics Departments at two major universities: Clemson University and Marshall University.¨


Kara Edwards is the new M-R counselor. She has worked in education for 10 years, 5 of those as a student counselor. She hopes to help the students through the school year by assisting students with all aspects of their high school careers.


¨As a school counselor I hope to meet the needs of our students in a number of areas, including academics, post high school plans and social/emotional concerns,¨ Edwards said.


The new counselor organization has changed to better accommodate each student and build a well-rounded relationship between students and administrators throughout the 4 years of high school. The new counselors are incredibly excited to be helping the students at Watauga.


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