River Ridge High School Counselor Named 2016 CCSD Counselor of the Year
Ridge Ridge High School Counselor Brittany Voltner is a “ray of sunshine” for students and staff, according to her Principal.
Her dedication to their successes, enthusiasm for their new ideas and support for them when they struggle is why she was honored on Thursday, March 31, 2016 as the Cherokee County School District 2016 Counselor of the Year. She now will represent CCSD in the Georgia Counselor of the Year competition.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprised Ms. Voltner with the news at a faculty meeting in front of her peers, who gave her a standing ovation. The CCSD winner is selected by a panel of community leaders.
“I was impressed with the things you said about her more than what she said about herself,” Dr. Hightower told the audience of her colleagues. “She’s humble… but it’s clear that she’s vital to the success you see in your classrooms. We’re so proud of her.”
Ms. Voltner, who began her career as a school counselor at River Ridge HS in 2013 after graduating from Columbus State University with a Master of Education in School Counseling degree, was quick to thank her fellow educators for their support.
“I could not do it without you all,” she said, noting the faculty’s support of her counseling initiatives including the Mentor Program to assist students at risk of not graduating on time… one of the ways she has contributed to increasing the school’s on-time graduation rate to an impressive 92%. “You want to make your students better.”
Ms. Voltner, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at Georgia College & State University, also was surprised by the presence of her parents, who were invited to join in the celebration.
Her mother shared that Ms. Voltner was “born to be a counselor,” and that even as a child, her friends came to her with their problems for advice.
In addition to her role as the Guidance Counselor and Class Sponsor for the junior class and serving on the school’s administration team, Ms. Voltner serves on the School Improvement Plan Committee, Instructional Design Committee, Student Tracking Committee (which she established) and Attendance Committee.
She serves as assistant coach for the varsity football and competition cheerleading teams and sponsors the Infinity Standing Strong Club, a peer support program for students with severe emotional needs that also organizes suicide prevention and awareness activities.
“I have found that meeting students’ emotional needs is important in helping them to get academically on track, and this club attempts to do just that,” Ms. Voltner said.
Ms. Voltner also volunteers with the school’s Relay for Life team and helps with many school activities.
“You really do bring a ray of sunshine to us and a lot of help,” Principal Darrell Herring said in his remarks. “We do our work together, and you are out front.”
2016 Innovation Zone Counselors of the Year
Cherokee Zone: Dr. Erin Poindexter of Liberty ES
Creekview Zone: Kevin Dibble of Creekland MS
Etowah Zone: Jill Cole of Clark Creek ES STEM Academy
Sequoyah Zone: Julie Huffman of Holly Springs ES STEM Academy
Woodstock Zone: Shanna McAdoo of Sixes ES.