LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kathryn Buchan was nominated by her colleague, Tonia Stallions.

Mrs. Buchan is a professional school counselor with six years of experience working with middle school-aged students.  She has a strong background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Solution-Focused Therapy. She uses those strengths to help her students with succeeding in academics, decreasing behavior problems in school, and balancing social-emotional feelings within themselves. Mrs. Buchan has successfully become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with the BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences).  With the added license, she has a professional and ethical obligation to her students, and she practices within those boundaries of student confidentiality and privacy.  As a school counselor and a clinical counselor, she has the ability and skills to help all the students and families who attend Buljan Middle School.

Mrs. Buchan has taken on the roles of Random Act of Kindness Club leader, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) leader, and School Site Attendance Team lead. She's also a member of the Medi-Cal Funding committee for all 23 school sites within the school district. Additionally, she's a Northern California representative for the California Association of School Counselors and an Emerging Leader for the CASC Organization. Mrs. Buchan volunteers to substitute for the department Union Representative, as needed.

As a school counselor, Mrs. Buchan is committed to having an inclusive, accepting environment at her middle school. She has hosted many school-wide events such as, but not limited to, Culture & Diversity Week, Suicide Prevention Day, Student Mental Health Awareness Week, College Day and Career Week, Kindness Week, Bullying Prevention Month, etc. 

Mrs. Buchan is an excellent school counselor and has aligned the school counseling program to meet the criteria of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) by receiving the Distinguished Recognized ASCA Model Program.  She is a school counselor, leader, advocate, and award recipient for school counselors in Northern California and beyond.