Guidance and counseling services are provided for the purpose of assisting students with their educational, vocational, personal-social adjustments, and progress. This service is an integral part of the total school program. Specific areas addressed are crisis intervention, counseling (helping students consider alternatives, make decisions and solve problms), and guidance activities such as test interpretation, scheduling, orientation, college and career information. Examples of situations where a counselor might be involved with students include:
When a student has some important decisions to make and needs to know more about alternatives and possible consequences.
When a student thinks he/she may need help or coordination by outside agencies, such as Social Services.
When a student wants some help in solving a problem with a teacher or a parent.
When a student would like to be in a career workshop or counseling group.
When a student wants assistance finding out about his/her standing in a class.
When a student’s parents want to be constructively involved (having a conference with a counselor and/or teachers).
When a student would like to know more about careers.
When a student has personal concerns or is having trouble making a decision.
When a student is concerned about drugs, alcohol, and related issues.
When a student wants to review his/her records and see how he/she is doing.
Olga Melendez Cordero is a proud alumna of Skyline High School. After graduating from Skyline, Olga attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology. Olga returned to St. Vrain Valley Schools as a Student Intervention Liaison/Homeless Education Liaison. During this time, Olga worked on and received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado at Denver. She started her journey as a bilingual school counselor in 1999. Olga has had the privilege of working at Rocky Mountain Elementary, Frederick Elementary and currently at Skyline High School.
Maura Brady McMullen graduated from Skyline High School and then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and History from Colorado State University. After graduation from CSU, Maura worked for a small technology company in Boulder. During her tenure at LeftHand Networks and later Hewlett Packard, Maura returned to school to earn her Masters of Science in School Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Maura’s first year was at Olde Columbine High School as a long-term substitute before she started at Skyline.
Gina Quintana Carnes holds a B.A. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master of Education in Education and Human Resource Studies, from Colorado State University. Before coming to Skyline, Gina taught middle school and high school for ten years.
Gina joined the Skyline Counseling Department in the spring of 2009. Presently she works with all 9th grade students.
Julie Steele holds a BS degree from Colorado State University in Textiles and Clothing with an option in Fashion Merchandising. She later returned to CSU to receive her Teacher Licensure in Consumer and Family Studies. She taught one year at Longmont High and Erie Middle Senior before beginning her teaching career at Skyline High School in 1999. She completed her Masters in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix and has worked as a counselor at Skyline since 2002. She is currently one of the National Honor Society advisors and works closely with the Front Range Community College Program.
