By Kayla Knowles
Staff Writer
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District selected Megen Anspach and Kristi Branim as the new College and Career Center counselors in place of Gail Currey and Katherine Folkman, who both left Mira Costa last school year to pursue careers as private college counselors.
Anspach and Branim both have prior experience in college advising from working at many different high schools as counselors.
“When I was in high school, I didn’t have the same sort of support that the CCC offers,” Branim said. “I feel that if programs such as the CCC were made important when I went to school, I would not have been confused as to what I wanted to do with my life. An entire conflict could have definitely been avoided.”
Anspach received a Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts and psychology, and Branim received a Master’s Degree in counseling. They were chosen from a pool of 250 applicants.
“They were hired because they were the best fit for the job,” Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “They are going to do a great job. They know how to handle students and parents and are very upbeat and welcoming to everyone who comes in.”
The CCC is a school program that gives students access to college information and career choices.
The counselors play a role in the program by providing the tools necessary for students to seek help and advice.
“I became an educator because I love being involved with young people,” Branim said “I wanted to do something that had a greater connection to people.”
Anspach and Branim are in the process of coming up with new ways to assess what they must change and accomplish to maintain the program’s achievements.
“It’s a bit frustrating to have new counselors, only because they aren’t used to working with Costa kids,” senior Nicole Tordella said. “I think that once they get more experience under their belt, it’ll be easier for everyone.”
Since the CCC has been a success in assisting students enroll in four-year universities, few changes are going into affect with the new counselors. They feel the most important part of their work at Costa is to make themselves as available to students as possible.
“We are a good fit,” Anspach said. “We coordinate well together which is important to create good relationships with parents and students.”
Dale believes that with the addition of counselors Anspach and Branim, the CCC is expected to be a success.
“Like the previous CCC counselors, they will continue the successful program,” Dale said. “They will continue to make improvements and changes that will fit our school for the best.”
Leave a Reply