Mrs. Austrum taught elementary school for 14 years in Phoenix, Arizona, Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, and Austin ISD before becoming a school counselor in 2017. She spent half of those years teaching 5th grade students, which is one of the reasons she loves working with 6th grade students so much. As an elementary counselor at Sunset Valley Elementary in Austin ISD for 5 years, Mrs. Austrum also held the roles of Campus Testing Coordinator, 504 Coordinator, AVID Coordinator, and Gifted & Talented Advocate. "Academic Advising surprised me the most at middle school - as I love helping students and families formulate a plan for academic success."

Mrs. Austrum graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education (Summa Cum Laude) and a Masters in Educational Leadership (Graduated With Distinction). 

Ms. McDonald started her educational career as a middle school teacher in Alice, Texas.  She taught for 5 years before becoming a school counselor.  She is about to start her 15th year as a school counselor and her 20th in public education. Ms. McDonald has one daughter who is 16 and a 10th grader at Crockett Early College High School where she is in the ECHS program and earning her assosicates degree while getting her high school diploma.  This is one reason why Ms. McDonald loves to work with 8th grade students, she is able to help them more since her daughter is going through high school at Crockett (where the majority of Covington stuents attend high school at). 

Ms. McDonald graduated with her Bacheolors of Arts in Psychology and her Masters degree in Counseling and Guidance.  She holds state ceritifications in Grades 4-8 generalist, school counselor, principal, and special education specialist.  Ms. McDonald is a strong advocate to students feeling they all need a chance to be heard.