As many students may know, former school counselor Kathy Spicer decided to retire over the summer. Taking her place is school counselor Will Burns. Burns attended high school at Norton Community High School in Norton before heading to Garden City Community College to play football for two years.

Burns had been working for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS) at Fort Hays for the past year.

“Prior to working at KAMS, I was a school counselor at the middle school,” Burns said. “KAMS was an awesome place to work, but I really missed being connected to students and families within our community. That is what ultimately made me want to apply for this position.

“Also, when I worked at KAMS, I generally had to work during breaks,” Burns said. “My wife, a second and third grade teacher, and I missed having breaks together with our two little boys, so we jumped at the chance to have that back.”

According to Burns, he started off majoring in Criminal Justice/ Criminology.

“I’m well over half way done with my Criminology degree,” Burns said. “However, about midway through, I decided I could have more of a positive impact if I were a school counselor. That’s when I transferred from KSU to Fort Hays to seek my bachelor’s in Elementary Education and then my master’s degree in School Counseling.”

Changing majors was a great idea for him, Burns said.

“Yes, I can wholeheartedly say that I love being a school counselor,” Burns said. ““My favorite part so far has been reconnecting with students and families that I worked with when I was a school counselor at Hays Middle School. There is nothing better than helping young people work towards achieving their goals.”

Burns said there is one quote he uses often in career/ academic counseling.

“Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow,” Burns said.

16nvuong@usd489.com