A school counselor plays a crucial role in the educational system; they do many things such as providing support and guidance to students in need. Linganore High School (LHS) counselor Kathy Becker plays this crucial role very well. She has impacted many students and staff through her 41 years working in education.
Becker recently retired as a school counselor at Linganore, and though many will miss her, students and staff will forever remember the impact she has made on this school.
Becker knew she wanted to work with students from the time she was an undergraduate student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. There, Becker earned a degree in special education.
During her years as a special education teacher, she enjoyed the one-on-one interactions with students. For that reason, Becker grew a strong interest in counseling and chose to pursue a master’s degree in counseling at McDaniel College.
“I felt I got to know them [students] better in that setting, so counseling carried over a lot of that opportunity,” Becker said.
Throughout Becker’s career as a counselor, she worked very hard to help students become prepared for their life after high school.
“I start meeting with my students individually, and I start with my seniors making sure that they have what they need on their schedule for graduation,” Becker said.
Becker has worked with seniors on the Dual Enrollment program during her time at Linganore. Assistant Principal Raeda Zietoon has worked with Becker on this program.
“With our dual enrollment, she was the expert,” Zietoon said. “It was new for me, [but] she’s been doing it for years with other assistant principals. So, I always listen to her advice to students, and then if I had to meet with those students on my own, I can provide the same advice,” Zietoon said.
Becker has taught many people her skills for working with students. Zietoon shared that she learned a lot about scheduling and counseling from her. Another Linganore assistant principal, Erik Englestatter, also learned a lot from his time working with Becker.
“I’m an assistant principal, so we work very, very closely with our counselors,” Englestatter said. “I have worked together [with Becker] on a couple of different things. She is very, very experienced, so I know that she’s a person that will have answers to certain questions.”
During Becker’s career as a counselor, she has given nothing but positivity and assistance, not only to students but to staff members at LHS as well.
In addition to being knowledgeable, Engelstatter shared that “She is always a supportive and respectful counselor … She also is honest and direct.”
According to Zietoon, Becker is a very reliable person for students and staff at LHS. She’s the go-to person in her office other counselors can ask her for advice.
“We understand that we all have to retire one day or another,” Zeitoon said. “The biggest void is like you’re losing somebody with that level of knowledge and experience in the school and replacing it with somebody that’s going to need to learn.”
“not seeing her every day and having a good laugh is always a bummer,” Englestatter said. “I know she’ll be happy and retiring.”
“’I’m ready to move on to something new,” Becker said. “I’m going to miss not only my students, but I’m going to miss all the faculty that I worked with over the years.”
Becker helped the staff and students tremendously, we hope the best for her and greatly appreciate her work at Linganore High School.
