In honor of National School Counseling Week, Bridges and Xap would like to recognize...

Michael Guevara
Riviera Elementary School
Palm Bay, Florida

Guevara -- or Mr. G as his students call him -- has made as many as three home visits in one evening. He visits parents he hasn't been able to reach by phone to discuss their children's behavioral or academic issues.

"It's just kind of bridging the gap between school and home," says Guevara. "The parent feels they're part of something, and they are."

One of two guidance counselors at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay, Florida, Guevara holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in mental health counseling.

It was back in high school that Guevara first realized he wanted to counsel. "I had a really good football coach who helped me through some dark times. And originally I wanted to coach so I could do the same thing he did for me. Then it dawned on me - I didn't really want to coach. I wanted to be a counselor.

"What I like about my role is the ability to try to help children, especially the younger children," he adds. "I may not see what the payback is for them, but later on down the road, I know it'll be there."

Mr. G has a big presence at Riviera. Every morning, he stands at the car loop outside the school as parents drop off their children. "I wave, help them out of the car," he says. "Being up front, I see every parent that walks in.... So when we talk -- 'Oh Mr. G, yeah, saw you up front, this is what's going on' -- and they tell me the story."

His open door policy during the day means that students can stop by his office at any moment. After school, he'll walk students home if they're concerned about bullies.

On Fridays, Guevara and a fellow counselor, Mr. Bynum, host a Character Café. They invite students who've had an outstanding week - academically or behaviorally - to join them for lunch. They sit on the patio, order ice cream from Ben and Jerry's, and hand out prizes like bracelets with the words Courage and Honor.

Then every quarter, a draw is held for larger prizes. At his own expense, Guevara has contributed CD players and radios to the draw.

At Thanksgiving, Guevara coordinates a food drive for students from low-income families. And at Christmas, he coordinates the Little Angels program, whereby teachers adopt families in need and buy presents for them.

But the many programs aside, what makes a good guidance counselor, according to Guevara, is helping because you really want to.

"I don't consider myself to be a good guidance counselor," says Guevara. "If I had to give myself a grade, I'd give myself a C+ or maybe a B-. But I'm very critical of myself and because of that, I go above and beyond and do those home visits.... It's my blessing and my curse -- my blessing because it will push me to work hard. But the curse is I get home real tired."

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