October 2020 – Amy Turner is a staff member at O. Henry. Her job is 6th grade counselor. She will move up with the 6th graders during their 7th and 8th grade years as their grade level counselor. She got her masters in 2007 at Johns Hopkins University, so she could become a counselor.

Question: Did you ever teach at a different school?  If so, what school?

Turner: I taught at a school in New York for one year, and I also taught at Kealing Middle School before I came to O. Henry.

Question: How long have you been a counselor at O. Henry?

Turner: It’s my 9th year as a counselor at O. Henry.

Question: In total, how long have you been teaching?

Turner: I’ve been teaching for 15 years in total.

Question: In detail, explain your job as an O. Henry counselor.

Turner: One thing I do is help kids feel supported and safe. I mostly help kids, but I also help parents if they feel like their kids aren’t the same or they need help with something else. I also help teachers at O. Henry if a student needs help or is misbehaving. I also help kids get into different programs. I know there are a lot more things I do, but I just can’t think of everything.

Question: What college did you go to?

Turner: I went to two different colleges: Ithaca College is where I earned my bachelor’s degree and  Johns Hopkins University is where I got my masters degree in counseling. Also, college is where I met my best friend!

Question: Did you ever play any sports when you were in middle or high school?

Turner: Yes, lacrosse all the way through college, and I also coached it for two years.

Question: Did you live somewhere else? If so, did you like it better than Austin?

Turner: Yes, actually I used to live in St. Thomas in the Caribbean Sea . My best friend and I lived there after we graduated. It was a little bit cooler than Austin, but I missed my family because I was so far away from them when I lived in St. Thomas. Originally I’m from New York, so I’m not even from Austin.

Question: When and where are you the happiest?

Turner: I’m happiest at a beach with blue water and white sand; it’s my Zen place.

Question: Currently, do you have any pets? If so, what type of pet?

Turner: No, but if I did, I would have a big dog like a Labrador. I can’t because I have a small house and a small backyard, so there’s not enough room.

Question: Did you have any pets when you were a kid?

Turner: I had a lot of pets when I was a kid, but my favorite were two dogs, Brewster and Buster. They were father and son.

Question: What are some hobbies and interests that you have?

Turner: I like to garden, I like to travel when I can, and I play cards. I’m actually in a card group with some of my friends.

Question: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Turner: I’m excited to meet everyone and get to know everybody as people start coming back to school.