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Meet a CCSD 2025 Counselor of the Year Zone Winner - Amanda Bridgewater!

Meet a CCSD 2025 Counselor of the Year Zone Winner - Amanda Bridgewater!

This week, we celebrate the incredible dedication and professionalism of every CCSD counselor! Our counselors play a vital role in supporting students' academic success, well-being and future readiness. Their commitment to Elevating the Excellence in our schools ensures that every student has the guidance and support they need to thrive.

In honor of National School Counseling Week, join us as we spotlight CCSD’s newly named 2025 Counselor of the Year Zone Winners. Stay tuned as we feature one outstanding counselor each day! #NSCW2025 #ElevateTheExcellence

How do you help students achieve excellence and reach their full potential?

As an elementary school counselor, building relationships is essential. I make an effort to learn students' names, greet them in the hallways and understand their interests to help them grow. It’s so important to me that each and every student at our school knows that they are loved and valued. I celebrate their progress to boost confidence and teach coping strategies for stress and anxiety, ensuring each student can reach their full potential.

What is something you have implemented that has enhanced the school culture?

I have been part of a team that has worked hard over the past few years to improve student attendance by implementing rewards and incentives. We host monthly celebration parties for homerooms with the best attendance and Friday lunches with counselors for homerooms with perfect weekly attendance. Additionally, we recognize students who have perfect attendance each quarter with a special reward party, which I always look forward to!

What words of advice would you like to share with our parents?

Parents should try to actively engage in their child's daily life, encourage open communication, celebrate achievements and promote positive self-talk. It’s also important for parents to actively listen to their child so that they can get to know what is really going on in their child’s life on a day-to-day basis. From the school standpoint, we want parents to remember that we are a team, and we can work together to best support their child.