Welcome to Mrs. Kailyn Salisbury, our new Jr/Sr High Counselor! Kailyn has her Masters in Counseling and a Bachelors in Social Work. She has worked in a clinical setting for the past 4 years. She also has a clear understanding of involving teachers in discussions about students and scheduling, a focus on improving success in academics with support as well as strengthening communication and a path for each student and their parents. Please help Kailyn feel welcome!
Read on to learn a bit more about her!
Why did you decide to become a school counselor? Becoming a school counselor has been a goal of mine for many years! I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a social worker, as helping others has always been a passion for me. One of my first jobs in the field was working with students in the foster care system as an educational advocate. It was through that job that I realized I wanted to work within the school system in a counseling role. I love being able to be part of a student’s journey and I’m very excited to do that here at Coleman!
Do you have any prior connection with this school district or community? My husband and I currently live in Midland, but we are hopeful to move closer to the Coleman area in the near future. We just got married last summer, and as much as we love our apartment, we and our 2 cats have quickly outgrown our space. We hope to find somewhere that we can spread out on our property to do some gardening, raise chickens, and grow our family. Coleman and the surrounding areas have been ticking all of those boxes for us!
What drew you to this opportunity? When I learned about the Coleman position, I was really excited! I completed my internship at a large high school - and had a wonderful experience truly! However, my husband taught for 4 years in a smaller district, and comparing his experience to my own experience in my internship, I feel I have more of an opportunity to make a stronger impact on students if I’m working in a smaller school. I really value having intentional and individual-based supports and interventions for students and this opportunity feels like it will allow me to lean into that. I’ve also read about how much the community supports the schools in Coleman, and how much the community is an integral part of everyday life here. Community-building is a huge part of my life outside of work, so Coleman feels all around like a great fit!
What does your absolute dream day off look like? A dream day off for me would involve a lot of time spent either at home doing some baking and crafting, or outside exploring a new trail or park with my husband. I love to bake goodies and share them with our neighbors when I have the chance! I also love to hike, garden and spend time outdoors when the weather is nice. Although I will admit, a day off spent in bed with my cats is also quite refreshing from time to time.
What adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Enthusiastic, Motivated, Caring
What's your secret talent?: My secret talent is that I am quite good at playing Fortnite. At the start of the pandemic, when we ran out of movies to watch, I began playing video games with the family I was staying with during quarantine. 2 members of that family happened to be high school-aged twin boys. They taught me everything I know! I don’t play much these days, but every now and again I still enjoy it.