Congratulations CRHS Counselor Michelle Zinser!

Garfield Re-2 and Coal Ridge High School are now home to the Region 6 Director for the Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) - Michelle Zinser.

Michelle is in her sixth year as a school counselor and fifth at Coal Ridge High School after a 12-year elementary education career took her to California and Morocco.

The Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) represents school counselors at all levels in Colorado. Its purpose is to serve its members and the public through programs that advance guidance and counseling in all school work settings: elementary, middle/junior high, high school, and post-secondary. Michelle represents Grand, Routt, Mesa, Delta, Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Moffat counties.

Michelle transitioned from the classroom to counseling to support kids in areas she felt she missed out on in her academic career.

“I really enjoy teaching. After I got my counseling degree, I didn’t feel like elementary counseling was the best fit,” she explained. “I enjoy working with the kids and making the social-emotional, academic, and career connections. I take what I missed out on in high school and try to apply it every day to our students.”

As a counseling student, Michelle saw the advantage and support that organizations like the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) provided her, so when the opportunity for a leadership position came up in CSCA came up, she jumped at the opportunity to lead.

“It is important to me to understand and know my profession. I want to know the laws, how they impact our organization, and how to best help my kids, and this organization is phenomenal,” she explained. “At our leadership meeting in June, I was amazed at the professionalism that we have in the state.”

She hopes to bring back first-hand information legislative issues and other resources to help the District and her region be forward-looking.

Ultimately, through mentoring new counselors and sharing available resources through CSCA, she hopes to bring solutions to issues at both the local and regional levels.

“Being involved in an organization like CSCA is great because you can bounce ideas off of other folks around the state that are going through similar circumstances. The professional development is rich and creates an environment that is conducive to growing and feel supported.”

Congratulations Michelle!