Super Counselor: Casey J. Pedrick

Nominators: Jennifer Jasinski, Jesleny Rodriguez and Ying Lin 

“Since freshman year I’ve heard about parent information nights, financial aid nights and college fairs. It wasn’t until senior year that I knew Ms. Pedrick was the person behind all those nights. I was thinking, ‘This person must be a superwoman!’ ” says student Ying Lin. 

Casey J. Pedrick, guidance and college counselor at the High School for Arts and Business in New York, is also a super counselor. One of her powers, according to colleague Jennifer Jasinski, is networking. “Where our small school may not have been on [experts’] radar of schools to visit, Casey’s connections bring them to us,” she says. 

Pedrick has also been known to come to the rescue of slacking seniors. “When she notices some seniors who have yet to apply to college and the deadline is near, she chases them down and encourages them,” says student Jesleny Rodriguez. 

But her efforts don’t stop there.“She’ll send e-mails on scholarship opportunities at midnight!” says Lin. 

Jasinski paints a picture of Pedrick “eating lunch while standing over a student on the computer, helping them with their online applications.”

“She inspires me to be a better counselor,” says Jasinski.