Erin Bundrige of Woodland Middle School has been named Counselor of the Year for Henry County Schools. An educator for 17 years, she is now in her seventh year in the district, starting as an elemenatry school counselor and now serving students in grades 6-7.

“It has been a blessing to work here,” she said. “This is definitely an honor, and I am very excited to receive this recognition.”

Dr. Chon Hester, coordinator of school counseling for the district, praised her work.

“Ms. Bundrige is a phenomenal school counselor,” said Hester. “She represents her school and our district in so many ways through her leadership positions and presentations at national and local conferences.  She truly has the academic, social-emotional health, and college and career-readiness success in mind for all of her students.”

One of Bundrige’s former principals, Dr. Joycelyn Jackson, noted that her impact stretches beyond the school grounds to the entire community.

“Our kids love her, our staff is wowed by her, and she has a counselor’s heart that touches the lives of our students,” said Jackson.  “Her connectivity to the school community is one of her biggest impacts, and it further ensures that our students have the things they need by way of support from outside of the school, too.  She is simply amazing and is most deserving of this honor.”

It’s important to Bundrige that students know they have support from the counseling team at the school each day.  She makes it her mission to reach out and establish these critical connections to foster better dialogue and the ability to help any time a student needs it.

“We want students to know who we are, why we’re here, and how to utilize our support, as well as our open-door policy for any time they need to come talk with us about any issue they may have,” she said.