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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2020)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 25, 2020 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM MHS counselor among state’s best BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes McNary High counselor Todd Bobeda calls counsel- ing the “best job in the world” and prides himself on trying to make a difference, one life at a time. Bobeda’s commitment to providing guidance and di- rection to students in the Sa- lem-Keizer School District over the last 15 years hasn’t gone unnoticed, which is why he was named a fi nalist for the 2020 Oregon School Counsel- or of the Year. “I always longed to be that person that got to go to that deeper level of what students’ needs are. For me, I have some really incredible stories of stu- dents, and I get to be the one, mainly just by my position, that gets to help them to make a small adjustment in their life that will hopefully last forever. It’s such a cool job to take a kid that is hurting and give them a little hope,” Bobeda said. Bobeda was a counselor at South Salem High School for 13 years before coming to Mc- Nary as a counselor in 2019. He was nominated for the award by the counseling team at South Salem “It was a huge recognition and an awesome honor. It really meant the world to me,” Bobe- da said. During his tenure at South Salem, the school was recog- nized as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) three separate times by the American School Counselors Association as the counseling team provid- ed data on how the school met the personal, social, academic and college and career needs of students. Bobeda said he is in the process of bringing the RAMP mindset to McNary. “This team at Mc- Nary is phenomenal. They have already had those pieces to- gether, it’s just that the presentation of the data is a lot of work,” Bobeda said. Bobeda started at McNary as a special education teacher from 2004 to 2006, where he also was an assistant coach for the soccer, wrestling and tennis programs. Even though he was at South Salem as a counselor for over a decade, Bobeda felt like he returned home when he came back to McNary. “I have always had a heart for McNary. To come back here has been incredible,” Bobeda said. “Mc- Nary is kind of my home. Even when I left, I knew I wanted to end up back here. I hope I stay here for a long time. It has been a cool return.” Bobeda approaches his work with joyful exuberance, which rubs off to both his students and his coworkers. “Todd is a great guy — su- per easy to get along with and committed to his work. To have him back at McNary has been really special. He is a really pos- itive coworker to have on staff. He is a glass-half-full kind of guy. He always fi nds a way to put a positive spin on anything,” McNary principal Erik Jespers- en said. “His positive attitude transfers to all the people that he interacts with. He genuine- ly cares about all the people he works for and with.” Todd Bobeda Along with being a counsel- or, Bobeda served in the mili- tary for 25 years before retiring in April. For the last 16 years, Bobeda would serve one week- end per month as a warrant of- fi cer with the Oregon National Guard — along with teaching suicide and depression aware- ness for soldiers. Juggling his responsibilities as a husband and father of four along with his counseling and military duties was stressful for Bobeda at times, but he was proud to serve his country. “It was diffi cult because of 12-day work weeks I would have to endure each month but it was still pretty cool. It was fun to be a part of a number of different units,” Bobeda said. “And I got to use my counsel- ing background to help young soldiers that were in need.” For the last 10 months, Bobeda has had to rein- vent the way he works as a coun- selor due to the COVID-19 pan- demic, relying mostly on emails and Zoom calls when communi- cation with stu- dents. Over the course of this school year, Bobeda has been able to volun- teer during lim- ited in-person instruction at McNary, talking about suicide curriculum in wellness classes. However, he said his job has become more diffi cult since the pandemic began. “It is a lot different. You have to work harder, because nobody is sending kids down when they have a rough day,” Bobe- da said. “I miss the facial con- nection. So much of language in non-verbal, and some of the kids that need me the most won’t pick up a telephone.” Even though he can’t meet with kids face-to-face, Bobeda’s care for his students has never wavered. “My goal is to help kids understand that someone cares about them. It’s incredible to have the (administration) at McNary support like they do. I love this job,” Bobeda said. OFC. JENNIFER STARNS Starns has worked with the Keizer Police Department for over two years. She graduat- ed with a bachelor’s degree in contemporary music, but then switched courses to become a veterinary technician. Though she loved being surprised with new challenges every day and helping animals, it wasn’t the job she wanted to retire out of. After going on a few ride- alongs with a friend she fell in love with police work and has people on their worst day and been pursuing it ever since. Starns’ goal is to relieve their “It was a little bit tough at suffering. fi rst because I did not have a Police as a whole have come lot of experience,” Starns said. under fi re because of the death Even so, she has found her of George Floyd at the hands of stride within the department. Minneapolis police offi cers, but Police work is often viewed Starns said doesn’t let that dis- as a “man’s” courage her. job but “I just keep thinking Offi cers from the Keizer S t a r n s about how great this Police Department (KPD) agreed to sit doesn’t let place is to work. The down and talk with the that get un- majority of the public Keizertimes as part of a der her skin. series of profi les on fi rst still really appreciates responders in Keizer. She said ev- us and the Keizer com- ery offi cer munity has showered brings dif- us with love. They sent ferent skills to the table and all cards and goodies and more of them are needed to have a sweets than we could ever pos- well-rounded department. sibly eat,” Starns said. “It’s not a guy’s job. There The job has its hard mo- are physical requirements, like ments, but Starns is grateful you have to be strong but you to be able to work in a time also have to be able to talk to where so many American’s fi nd people. That’s a huge part of it themselves out of a job, even if too,” Starns said. it’s only paperwork. Starns has She wanted to be a police been on light duty since July offi cer because she desired to due to a knee injury, but hopes help people. Police often see to be back on the road soon. 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