BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ALEXANDRIA -- What Linda Conrad loves about being a guidance counselor is the one-on-one interaction with Campbell County High School students. What colleagues love about Mrs. Conrad is her enthusiasm.
"She just has her program so organized," said Dee Gains, a Gallatin County High School guidance counselor who nominated Mrs. Conrad for the Outstanding Guidance Counselor for 1998 award. "She really has a sense of pride in the profession."
The Kentucky Counselors Association chose Mrs. Conrad as the counselor of the year for her work with students and the organization. She is treasurer of the Northern Kentucky chapter.
"I feel that I've only done this a short time, and I don't feel real worthy of the award," said Mrs. Conrad, who has been at the school four years.
Before going to work as a counselor, Mrs. Conrad was a stay-at-home mom who raised four daughters.
Being a parent prepared her for handling the gamut of concerns, problems and triumphs she helps students cope with.
There are academic and personal counseling and referrals; class scheduling; assistance with military and vocational school; and financial aid coordination for college. And there are real-life issues like helping students deal with death.
In the past two weeks, Mrs. Conrad has dealt with scheduling for next year, a student killed in a car accident and two girls who lost their mother.
"As far as I'm concerned, . . . being a guidance counselor is serving students and their families," Mrs. Conrad said.
