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Synnora Wilbur has been a part of the Andes Central School District and Lake Andes Community for the past four years. She is currently the Andes Central middle and high school counselor. Synnora is and has been involved in many school and community activities including, the Lake Andes Food and Wellness Council, Eagle Eats, Small Group Discussions, National Honor Society advisor, the haunted hallway fundraiser, Winter Activity Day, Homework Room and Organizational Bootcamp to name some of the more recent. Growing up in a military family, meant that she was never in one location for very long; as a child the longest amount of time that she was in one place was when her family lived in Oklahoma for five and half years. Being a military child lent her to many interesting opportunities as she was growing up. When her dad was stationed in Korea, Synnora worked her first job ever which was as a bagger at the grocery store on the Army post where they lived. She was not paid an hourly wage, just in the tips from the customers. Another interesting tidbit about Synnora that not many people know is that she actually graduated from high school in Korea. Teaching or being a school counselor was not in her future plans as Synnora was growing up. She actually had wanted to become a veterinarian. Synnora attended college, but ended up choosing psychology as her degree. Like most college graduates who graduate with a psychology degree, she was not exactly sure what she wanted to do within the field. She was hired as a para for the Wagner Community School for a year. This job became a defining career moment for Synnora. As a para, she fell in love with working with kids. After this experience, Synnora knew that she wanted to continue working in a school, but not as a teacher. As she learned about school counseling, she knew she had found the right career path for her. In order to become a school counselor, it was required of her to have two semesters that she had to student teach as a teacher would but as a counselor. For the first semester which she did at Andes Central, she was in school for a whole day one day a week. The second semester, she worked at the Tripp-Delmont School every day the entire school day. After completing her course work, she took her first position as a school counselor for the Tripp-Delmont school system. When asked how she comes up with such interesting and different opportunities and activities for the Andes Central middle school and high school students, she credits the Andes Central administration. She feels extremely fortunate that her administration supports the many professional development opportunities available to her. Because of this support, she is able to attend conferences and local collaboration meetings where she gets many of her ideas that better support Andes Central students. One of the many unique aspects of counseling that Synnora has implemented at Andes Central is the biannual meeting minutes where she meets with each student for a 1:1 session. It gives her a chance to ask general questions as well as allows her the time and opportunity to check in with each student. Being a school counselor is not without its challenges. Communication and collaboration are two of the biggest challenges that have the most impact on Synnora’s counseling program. It is important for her to be included in conversations about student success that way she gets a better picture of what the needs of the students are. When asked what motivates her, Synnora’s reply was 100% the students. Especially being a part of the Andes Central School District for the past four years, she has been able to see growth in students and built a rapport in order for the students to know that they can trust her which allows them to open up. One of her professional goals is to have the Andes Central School District be a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) certified school with the American School Counselor Association. There are many steps that have to be taken in order for this to be achieved, but Synnora feels it would show the legitimacy of the school’s counseling program. This certification includes data information decision making, aims to close the achievement and opportunity gaps and advocates for a developmentally appropriate curriculum. One of the biggest accomplishments in both life and career to Synnora is continuing to show up every day. What sounds like it would be a little accomplishment, has far greater meaning than at first glance. Everyone has bad days when it is hard to get out of bed and be a responsible adult. She is proud of her ability to continue to show up and be a constant for her family, students and community. Synnora is married to Michael Wilbur. The couple has two darling daughters and an angel baby as well as their two very large and loving dogs. When Synnora is not busy as a school counselor she enjoys painting, working out and spending time in the sun. A chosen quote that fits Synnora very well by Thomas Saasz is, “The self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.” Thank you Synnora for all that you are doing for the Andes Central School District’s students and parents as well as your continued passion and dedication to your profession. For all of these reasons and more is why Synnora Wilbur is a person that people should know.