After 17 years of school counseling, Paul Jones brings extensive experience to FCHS’ Counseling department. His job is to make sure that you have the classes you want, feel comfortable with your peers, and overall, help you guide the path to the rest of your life.

Jones said he has endeavored to make sure students have the education they need to succeed. He wants to make sure that students’ needs are being met while having an education.

“I wanted to help students make education a priority. Before becoming a counselor, I worked with high-risk (dropping out of school) students. I learned from these students that they wanted to get an education, but it wasn’t their immediate need. Their needs were based on survival. I wanted to help change the narrative,” said Jones.

As a counselor, Jones has to balance his time with many students and make sure he has time for everyone. He can do this with his dedication to his job and drive to help students.

“I enjoy working with students and families, and I enjoy working in education. I do the best I can to be able to work with all of my students. I do worry about whether I am meeting with students enough and meeting their needs,” said Jones.

One of the most important things Jones does is make sure that students are passing classes and are taking the ones that they actually want. He talks to students about their future plans so he can find the right classes for them.

“I work to help students set goals based on what they want to achieve. Every student is different, but I have learned that all students want to have a sense of success and achievement,” said Jones.

Jones strives to help students be the best they can by giving them all the resources they need. When he sees students struggling, he does everything he can to help them.

“The most rewarding part of my job is watching students achieve success and knowing they are just beginning to scratch the surface of their abilities,” he said.