Meet the Counselors!
Back-to-School with the Counseling Office
August 7th
Dear Families,
We hope this message finds you and your family well and enjoying the summer! Molly Tiernan and Mel Thulin will be your AMS School Counselors for the upcoming year! Molly is returning to the district for her 15th year at AMS and will be the counselor for grades 5 and 6. This is Mel’s fifth year as a School Counselor at Aspen Middle School; she will be the counselor for grades 7 and 8.
From Molly: I am so excited to rejoin the AMS family! Over the past 22 years, I have had the privilege of serving our community as a counselor and school leader at Aspen Middle School and Basalt Middle School. I am now thrilled to be returning to my favorite role, AMS School Counselor!
This summer I enjoyed playing outside with my husband, Zeke, and our daughters, Jude and Frances. A special highlight was returning to Idaho for a week of rafting on the crystal clear waters of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Our family lives in Basalt, but you’ll find us on the mountain most of the winter, and in any water we can find in the summer.
I am looking forward to supporting your students as they grow into young adults, ready to take on the world!
From Mel: I grew up in a small ski town in southern Vermont, where I played soccer year-round. When I wasn’t on the field, you could usually find me on the slopes or playing a family-friendly game of tennis- with just a little healthy competition mixed in :) Before moving to Colorado, I taught 6th-grade special education in Massachusetts for three years.
I feel incredibly grateful to live and work in such a beautiful community and have truly enjoyed supporting AMS students and families over the past several years.
This summer, I enjoyed paddleboarding on the river, hiking, playing tennis, and spending time with my family in Vermont and Florida. It was a nice reminder of what humidity feels like!
We are excited to welcome students back to school on Monday, August 10th!
Please know that we are here to support both you and your child in every way we can. We welcome your questions, concerns, and ideas, and look forward to partnering together to support your child’s success and well-being.
In our role, we support students with scheduling, conflict resolution, coping strategies, study and learning techniques, executive functioning skills, and getting involved in extracurriculars and clubs- anything that helps them access learning and feel safe, supported, and connected at school. We are excited to prioritize student voice and leadership this year, while continuing to build strong, positive connections across our community.
If you would ever like to schedule an appointment with us during the school year, please feel free to reach out by email or phone.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Molly Tiernan
AMS School Counselor Grades 5/6
Work Cell: (970) 300-1672
Office: 970-925-3760 x2132
Mel Thulin
AMS School Counselor Grades 7/8
Work Cell: 970-661-2798
Office: 970-925-3760 x2232