School Counseling

Our School Counselors Care About Our Students!

Our school counselors focus on academic, career, and personal development to ensure that every student benefits from a program that is comprehensive in scope, preventative in design, and developmental in nature. Here you will find helpful school counseling resources for your Mountain Ridge Middle student and your family!

Attendance
Career Resources
College Resources
Community Resources
Counselor Request
Student & Family Resources

Meet the Counselors

Mrs. Brandenburg

Mrs. Brandenburg

Phone: (304) 229-8833

Email: sbrandenburg@k12.wv.us

Thank you for visiting! I am one of the school counselors here at MRMS. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know our students and helping them be happy, healthy, safe, and successful individuals.

I began teaching at Martinsburg North Middle School in 2008 as the Family and Consumer Science (Home-Ec) teacher. In 2013-14, while teaching at Musselman Middle School, I was finishing up my Masters in School Counseling. Since then, I have served as a split counselor between Eagle Intermediate (5th grade) and NMS, then Martinsburg North and South Middle. My adventures took me to Jefferson Co. to serve as an independent counselor at a K-5 school in 2018. When the opportunity to return to middle school and Berkeley Co. appeared, I could not resist. I am very excited to earn my "Dragon-ship" and join the Mountain Ridge Middle School family.

Please feel free to reach out at any time! We are here to help teachers and guardians help students be the best they can be! 

bitmoji cartoon character version of Mr. Brier wearing sunglasses standing next to yellow smiley face wearing sunglasses

Mr. Brier

Phone: (304) 229-8833

Email: jbrier@k12.wv.us

Hi, I am Mr. Brier. I grew up in West Virginia. I was born in Roane County, but I did my growing up in Jackson County in a little town called Ripley. I graduated from Ripley High School in 2001. I attended both Concord University and West Virginia Wesleyan College; graduating in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Sociology minor. I then attended Villanova and Marshall University for graduate school, graduating with my Master's in School Counseling in 2007.

From 2008-2019 I was the school counselor at Mountain Ridge Intermediate School in Gerrardstown, WV nestled in the South End of Berkeley County.

I worked from 2019-2021 in Frederick County, MD. While I met so many wonderful people there, I am very glad to be working back home here on "The Ridge"!

I live in Martinsburg WV with my wife, Charli, and four dogs, Lola, Meeka, Perry, and Boo. My wife is a CPA working close to home in downtown Martinsburg. My dogs are crazy and cuddly. 

Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

The school counseling program at Mountain Ridge Middle is designed to provide a safe, supportive atmosphere where students can attain personal/social, academic, and career success through a collaborative partnership with other educators, families, and the community.

We work hand in hand to nurture the physical, emotional, and intellectual dimensions that enhance life-long learning and foster a positive self-esteem that leads to becoming productive members of our community. 

Vision Statement

Mountain Ridge Middle students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to maximize their full potential and successfully reach their full potential while managing their lives as healthy, responsible, competent, and productive citizens.

The School Counseling program focuses on the West Virginia Student Success Standards. Students will learn how to increase interpersonal and social skills, and refine learning and work.