Three new counselors have joined the faculty and begun their roles as part of the department. Alex Breiner, Mindy James and Douglas Sawitzky will take on the caseloads of Brian Staton, Erik Beall and Abida Otinger, respectively. Staton made the transition into becoming the new dean of students, Beall resigned due to his success in the real estate business and Otinger resigned in order to stay home with her children.
“The work is definitely keeping me busy with long days, but I look at it like a cold pool, it’s best to jump right in and get used to it,” Sawitzky said. “My primary goal is to get to know my students, their families and faculty in the building and help them as much as I can. I think the relationship piece is so vital. The veteran counselors have been very supportive, helping us with questions as they arise, it’s a really close knit team.”
While Sawitzky does aim to form relationships with his student demographic, freshmen with last names DJ through HI and all other grades with last names FIT through HSU, there is still concern surrounding the counselor changes among seniors in regards to college recommendations.
“It makes me nervous in a way,” senior Isabella Herzberg said. “Like here you are, these past three years you’ve worked super hard with grades, teachers, tests, extra curricular activities and building relationships with people. Now in walks this new person, who you’ve never even seen before, and now they are going to write a letter about you to colleges. It’s a race against time to get to know this person and have them know you.”
Counselors Christy Close Hanlon, Josh Peters, Miriam Filvarof, Cara Engel and James Rixse were not subject to the swap of caseloads, therefore their students will not be affected.
“I’m glad my counselor didn’t change because I think it’s important for the relationship between a student and their counselor to stay consistent,” sophomore Maddie Miller said.
However, Miller has faith that these counselors will put in the effort to forming personal relationships with their students.
“I’m sure the new counselors will be trying their best, it’s not like they won’t care or haven’t thought about it how it feels for seniors.”
Regardless of these challenges, Sawitzky remains optimistic and hopeful for the upcoming year.
“It’s going to be a great year and I can’t wait to meet everyone,” Sawitzky said. “To my seniors, don’t stress, we will be meeting as the senior packets come in and I look forward to going through the college process with you all. [To] all students, find something to get involved in at the school, there is so much out there and it is a wonderful way to further strengthen the tremendous community feel at Marshall.”