Lauren Amisial, a counselor and swim coach at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, received the high school’s Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year Award for the 2023-2024 school year.
Supporting students through their personal journeys, as they make their way through high school, Ms. Amisial has played a significant role in many peoples’ lives.
Inspired by her own students assistant counselor in high school, Ms. Amisial sought her out in her senior year, and asked if she could do an independent study. As she began to understand more about this career, she knew it was what she wanted to pursue.
After college, Ms. Amisial worked at another school district for nine years until she heard about a job opening at Bridgewater-Raritan. When she first came, she was in awe by the open campus and diverse environment. She recalls all the administration, teachers and most of all, students, as having been great.
Now as Ms. Amisial continues her career here, she would like to share some advice to the students at BRHS. High school is an important transitional period and as students grow during their four years here, she wants to let them know that talking to people can help.
She says advocating for yourself and feeling comfortable reaching out to adults if you need support is important.
“Just venting is important sometimes,” Ms. Amisial said.
During her time at BRHS, Ms. Amisial hopes to share this message and create a supportive environment for all students.
Apart from school, she also enjoys listening to music, watching movies and spending time outside, whether its going for walks or bike riding.
Ms. Amisial finds receiving the award “such an amazing way to be recognized and appreciated. It’s really nice that people thought to nominate me.”
Ms. Amisial is honored to be given such immense support and would like to thank everyone for the encouragement.
She and Sherry Griggs, the high school’s orchestra teacher and the Governor’s Educator of the Year will join the other 20 Governor’s winners (two from each school) who will be honored in May at a reception that is sponsored by the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA). The reception will be held at the Elks Lodge in Somerville.
