Meet the Members of Laurel Springs School's Counseling Department - National School Counseling Week
2/4/19
"Counselors are the heart of the school! Each day I watch our amazing School Counseling Department thoughtfully care for the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students. This includes partnering with them and their families to understand their unique situations and aspirations. Whether it be a phone or Skype call to lend an ear, celebrate an accomplishment or milestone, offer recommendations, or provide cheerleading-like encouragement, the Counselors can be seen doing whatever it takes to help their students and families. They also team with faculty and staff to ensure that students’ needs are at the center of our planning and decision making. Having one person that you can go to, who knows your story and the path you are currently walking, and who is invested in your success, makes a huge difference! This week we have the special opportunity to celebrate and thank our talented and dedicated Counseling team for all that they do for our students and families, and the larger school community. They truly are always here for us!"
This week, Laurel Springs is pleased to recognize the contributions of our Counselors during the National School Counseling Week celebration. On Tuesday, February 5th at 3:00 pm ET | 12:00 pm PT, Upper School students and are invited to our Counselor Quizzo event to learn more about our Counselors.
To access the event, please refer to the invitation emailed by your Counselor.
Mrs. Alvanos
I realized in high school that I really wanted to work in education and be a teacher. How I wanted to be involved with education changed over time but the overall career path remained.
If you weren’t working in education, what profession would you like to be involved in?
If I was not working in education, I would be in the mental health or social services field.
What was the best book or series that you’ve ever read?
Marley and Me by John Grogan.
What emoji do you use most frequently?
Thumbs up 👍!
Ms. Berrier
I am originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, which is about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia. Something interesting about West Chester is that it's the home of the QVC headquarters and Tastykakes!
When did you realize you wanted to work with children?
I realized I wanted to work in education when I was in high school. I originally wanted to be a history teacher but then I discovered psychology and I really enjoyed helping people, so I decided to pursue school counseling instead.
What’s your best advice to students who are just getting started with online school?
My best advice is to follow the pacing laid out through the calendar application on the Learning Management System. Time management is key. It is easy to say that you will do an assignment tomorrow until tomorrow comes, then the end of the semester comes, and you find yourself stressed and way behind in your courses. You can easily avoid this by being proactive and doing what you need to do when it is due.
What are your pursuits outside of school?
Outside of school I enjoy reading, running/training for races, exploring new places, and spending time with my family and friends.
Ms. Bindler
I was born in the Czech Republic, which was still under Communist rule when I lived there. I actually “escaped” Communism by pretending to visit relatives in France, then never returned. We left all our possessions and spent nine months in an immigration camp in what was then West Germany before immigrating to the United States.
When did you realize you wanted to work in education?
As a little girl, I always played with my dolls; I was the teacher and they were my students. My mother always knew what was going on in my life because she listened to my conversations with my “students.”
What's the best piece of advice you've received?
Choose to be positive. It takes just as much effort as being negative, but positivity will make you feel better.
Favorite book?
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye.
Ms. Campuzano
Delaware County, Pennsylvania. A lot of movies get filmed in my area, and I like go and watch the process. Some examples include Silver Linings Playbook, Glass, Creed, and The Lovely Bones.
When did you realize you wanted to work in education?
I knew I always wanted to work with children, but never wanted to be teacher. I loved the idea of supporting Upper School students by helping them figure out their future, so I researched the Counseling field and instantly knew this was the career path for me.
What emoji do you use most frequently?
Grimacing face - 😬
What would be your first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100 years?
Is The Office still on Netflix?
Mr. Drucis
Nine years ago I realized I was in the wrong profession (sales) and wanted to change careers. I decided at that point I wanted to work with high school students as I am interested in helping with college and career planning.
What movie title best describes your life?
Big – I’m still a kid at heart.
What are you most likely to become famous for?
Winning the lottery - it’s gonna happen!
If you could only eat one food, what would it be?
My wife’s chicken cutlets!
Ms. Hagenbuch
Bethlehem, PA, the home to the JustBorn Candy Company, which makes PEEPs.
What’s your best advice to students who are just getting started with online school?
Spend time each day in your classes, and use the to-do list or Calendar features in the Learning Management System to stay organized.
What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
If you are ever afraid to share an idea, remember that someone said, "Let's make a movie about a tornado of sharks.”
Mrs. Kenny Verdes
I am from Brooklyn, NY, home of the world’s best pizza.
What’s the best and worst pieces of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice that I’ve ever been given was from my paternal grandfather who said half the things you worry about don’t come true.
The worst piece of advice that I’ve ever received is don’t move away, it’s too far. Had I listened, I wouldn’t have moved to the West Coast, which changed my life profoundly. I went to school for my counseling degree after teaching for many years, met my husband there, and had my son there.
If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what rule would you make?
Be true to you, while being kind to others.
What are you most likely to become famous for?
My meatballs!
Ms. Polakowski
I am originally from Warren County, New Jersey, which is close to the Delaware Water Gap. An interesting fact about my hometown, is that there is an M&M factory located there and when it is in production, the air carries a delicious chocolatey aroma! Check the back of an M&M wrapper, and you’ll see that it says Hackettstown, NJ on it!
When did you realize you wanted to work in education?
Probably when I was still in elementary school, and would play pretend as if I were a teacher in a classroom. I would make my brother and friends pretend to be my students and would assign them projects to do!
If you weren’t working in education, what profession would you like to be involved in?
Definitely interior design. I am an HGTV and HomeGoods store fanatic!
What are your pursuits outside of school?
Skiing, biking, working out, practicing yoga, attending live concerts, and cooking.
What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
The College Application Process.
Mr. Proctor
When I began coaching track and field.
What are your pursuits outside of school?
Running, backpacking, and fly fishing.
What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Best: Learn something new everyday.
Worst: You can worry about that tomorrow.
There are two types of people in this world. What are the two types?
Those who like to see their gas light turn on as a challenge and those who see their tank at ¼ empty and fill it up.
Ms. Sabatino
I grew up in Ojai, California, which is where Laurel Springs School’s home office is located.
What’s your best advice to students who are just getting started with online school?
My best advice to a student who is just getting started with online school is to utilize all school resources and to participate in as many school functions as possible.
If you could only eat one food, what would it be?
Does coffee count? It’s essential that I start my day with a hot cup of joe!
What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
How to straighten my ridiculously curly hair.
Ms. Shelton
I grew up next to a 19th century stone house with a barn and horses. Part of the horses grazing area was behind a fence at the bottom of the hill of our property. This gave us the chance to pet and feed the horses when they were out in the yard.
What’s your best advice to students who are just getting started with online school?
It is a very different environment than a brick and mortar school and you need to be disciplined and responsible for setting up your school day so you are getting your schoolwork accomplished in a timely manner.
What are your pursuits outside of school?
I act, dance, and sing in plays and musicals in community theater, listen and go dancing to New Wave/Alternative 80s music, watch classic and independent movies, go to concerts, and visit with friends and family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“All the art in the world won’t be destroyed.” My first boss said this to me when I was terribly stressed about being involved with too many projects at once. This reminds me that you don’t have to get everything done in a day, the work will still be there for you tomorrow.
Mrs. Snow
When I was born, we lived in Honeybrook, PA, but I spent most of my childhood in Pottstown, PA. It's home of the Hill School – which was attended by many well-known people (Oliver Stone and James Cromwell, to name a couple).
When did you realize you wanted to work in education?
During my undergrad at Penn State. I studied Human Development & Family Studies, and child development was very intriguing to me.
What movie title best describes your life?
What’s the worst that could happen?
There are two types of people in this world. What are the two types?
People who pop their collars and people who don’t.
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