River Ridge Educator Named Counselor of the Year

Submitted by the Cherokee County School District

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WOODSTOCK, GA -- Ridge Ridge High School Counselor Brittany Voltner is a “ray of sunshine” for students and staff, according to her principal.

Her dedication to their successes, enthusiasm for their new ideas and support for them when they struggle is why she was honored on Thursday, March 31 as the Cherokee County School District 2016 Counselor of the Year. She now will represent the district in the Georgia Counselor of the Year competition.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower surprised Voltner with the news at a faculty meeting in front of her peers, who gave her a standing ovation. The winner is selected by a panel of community leaders.

“I was impressed with the things you said about her more than what she said about herself,” Dr. Hightower told the audience of her colleagues. “She’s humble… but it’s clear that she’s vital to the success you see in your classrooms. We’re so proud of her.”

Voltner was quick to thank her fellow educators for their support.

“I could not do it without you all,” she said, noting the faculty’s support of her counseling initiatives including the Mentor Program to assist students at risk of not graduating on time… one of the ways she has contributed to increasing the school’s on-time graduation rate to an impressive 92 percent. “You want to make your students better.”

Voltner also was surprised by the presence of her parents, who were invited to join in the celebration.

Voltner earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Georgia College & State University. She began her career in 2013 as a school counselor at River Ridge after graduating from Columbus State University with a master of education in School Counseling degree.

Her mother shared that Voltner was “born to be a counselor,” and that even as a child, her friends came to her with their problems for advice.

In addition to her role as the guidance counselor and class sponsor for the junior class and serving on the school’s administration team, Voltner serves on the School Improvement Plan Committee, Instructional Design Committee, Student Tracking Committee (which she established) and Attendance Committee.

She serves as assistant coach for the varsity football and competition cheerleading teams and sponsors the Infinity Standing Strong Club, a peer support program for students with severe emotional needs that also organizes suicide prevention and awareness activities.

“I have found that meeting students’ emotional needs is important in helping them to get academically on track, and this club attempts to do just that,” Voltner said.

Voltner also volunteers with the school’s Relay for Life team and helps with many school activities.

“You really do bring a ray of sunshine to us and a lot of help,” Principal Darrell Herring said in his remarks. “We do our work together, and you are out front.”

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Photo 1: River Ridge High School Counselor Brittany Voltner is surprised with the announcement on Thursday, March 31, 2016 by Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower that she is the Cherokee County School District 2016 Counselor of the Year
Photo 2: Voltner’s mother praises her success.
Photo 3: Voltner’s colleagues applaud her comments, as she thanks them for their support, while Principal Darrell Herring, center, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower look on.
Photo 4: Voltner is congratulated by co-workers, from left, Gloria Lathem, Henley Sawicki and Kelley Adams after the announcement was made at the school’s faculty meeting.
Photo 5: The faculty meeting turned into a celebration following the announcement, as Dr. Hightower, left, and Director of School Operations Debra Murdock, right, present the award to Voltner.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District