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

Richard Johnson
Fairway Middle School
Killeen ISD, Texas

When students at Fairway Middle School in Texas need some support, they know just where to turn.

Richard Johnson is a counselor at Fairway. He is a firm believer in supporting his students. That's a big reason why he can be found at Fairway sporting events, choir performances and band shows, even when they're scheduled after school hours. He even travels to support Fairway's teams.

"It's about support," he says. "Kids who have support will do better in school."

Johnson taught fifth grade for five years before becoming a counselor. As a teacher, he saw many students who needed that extra support.

"I saw a lot of kids on the downside," he remembers. "They came to school with attitude. I'd tell them that I would be having a great day if it wasn't for their attitude. They just needed someone to turn to."

"I tell my colleagues that if you don't have heart and compassion, you won't do well."

Johnson organizes classroom interventions and workshops on things like anger management to help the school's students overcome any attitude problems.

Despite the challenges he sees, Johnson always enjoys working with all kinds of students. He can't think of any negative aspects to working with the students themselves.

"I don't see myself ever having a bad situation with one of the little people," he says. "Any problems come from the big people, who don't always realize that we need to be modeling good behavior for the little people."

In addition to cheering for Fairway's basketball teams and enjoying band and choir performances, Johnson spends his spare time fishing, reading and jogging.

Bridges Transitions congratulates Richard Johnson for making a difference in the lives of his students.

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