Richard Williams

8th Grade and Beyond Counts!

Introduction...

I am a retired Army officer and currently work as a Secondary School Guidance Counselor for two school districts in southwest Colorado. Both schools are very small and I am responsible for grades 6 - 12 on both campuses. I have three master's degrees; one in International Studies and one in Educational Leadership with a k - 12 Principal's endorsement. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army in 2006. I spent 24 years on active duty. I also spent three years working as an Admissions Officer at West Point. During that assignment I discovered that I really enjoyed working as a guidance counselor and supporting the postsecondary needs of students interested in attending college. Upon retiring from the Army, I obtained my counselor's license and began working in Public Education. I have thoroughly enjoyed my career as a guidance counselor for the past eight years in Ouray County. I love working in small schools where I can serve students from middle school through high school in the same building. I enjoy getting to know my students and cherish the opportunity to watch each of them grow up right before my very eyes. I have also served as the Interim Principal for one of the schools that I am employed in. I was named Counselor of the Month for Colorado in 2010 and Counselor of the Year for Colorado in 2012. More recently, I have started my own business helping other students not enrolled in the schools that I currently work at obtain the same personal guidance and counseling support that I have been able to provide to hundreds of students since 2006. My business, College consulting Services, LLC, is an all encompassing program that supports students as early as the 8th grade with college preparation, guidance, and testing opportunities.