Home Grown, Award-Winning School Counselors

H e Gr n, AWARD-WINNING SCHOOL COUNSELORS

Two graduates of the Department of Counseling and Student Personnel’s Professional School Counseling Program—Amanda Bomstad and Kayla Sandersfeld—were named 2020 Minnesota School Counselors of the Year. “It is a signifi cant acknowledgment by professional peers of the work being done in the schools,” said Rick Auger, department faculty member. “Both the application and review processes are quite involved. Winners are the epitome of what a school counselor should be.” The Minnesota School Counselor Association solicits and reviews nominations from around the state in several categories: Elementary School, Middle School, Secondary, and Multi-Level Counselors of the Year as well as Administrator of the Year. Nominations require a nomination letter and several letters of support. It is not an easy process. Congratulations Amanda Bomstad (‘05) and Kayla Sandersfeld (‘07, ‘10)!

AMANDA BOMSTAD

2020 Secondary Counselor of the Year

Mankato West High School

First impression of Minnesota State Mankato’s Professional School Counseling Program: “I remember my fi rst visit to Mankato. I did not have an appointment, but Dr. Auger was so accommodating; he took time to show me around and explain the program. I knew immediately it was the right place for me.”

“Amanda's sincere, personable manner shows how much she cares. She has demonstrated the gi of knowing when to o er advice, when to listen, and when to give a suggestion but communicate that it's the student's decision to choose what's right for him or her.”

–Ann G. Schwartz, Parent

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Rick Auger, Ph.D., Coordinator, Professional School Counseling Program Armstrong Hall 107 • 507-389-5658 richard.auger@mnsu.edu • ed.mnsu.edu/csp

KAYLA SANDERSFELD

2020 Middle School Counselor of the Year

New Ulm Middle School

Favorite part of your job: “I want my students to know there is an adult in the building who will be a cheerleader for them. My co-counselor laughs when I say the favorite part of my job is standing in the hall, greeting kids when they come into our building and saying goodbye to them when they leave. I want them to know it is a place they are welcome—some of them do not have that at home. I want them to know someone cares about them.”

“Kayla’s systemic change e orts have resulted in decreased discipline referrals; improved attendance; a safer, kinder learning environment; the schoolwide use of common language and more positive attitudes toward social/emotional learning. She also created our district wide suicide screening protocol, which has saved the lives of multiple students.” –Jade Anderson, School Counselor, New Ulm Middle School