Yorktown Guidance Counselor Touched Lives of Students, Families

Judy Goldberg-Strassler—known by most of her students as “Mrs. G.S.”—said she had conflicting feelings about leaving Yorktown Elementary School, but mainly felt love as students and families gathered last Thursday in the school's cafeteria to say goodbye.

During her 12 years as the guidance counselor at Yorktown, Goldberg-Strassler touched the lives of not only her students, but their families in a very impactful way.

As she gave a hug to 4th-grader Nigel Slaughter, Goldberg-Strassler said her favorite thing about being at Yorktown was helping kids and families.

“I told the kids I was happy to come to work every day,” she said.

Goldberg-Strassler had been working in Prince George’s County schools for 27 years as a counselor, and over 35 years including the years before that when she was teaching.

“She is a true difference maker,” said Vincent Briscoe, who had three children—Janelle, Janay and Elijah—attend Yorktown.

Briscoe said when his family lost their home to foreclosure in 2008, Goldberg-Strassler was instrumental in getting the family the support they needed, organizing with local churches and making sure the family had the necessities.

“Not only did she take an interest in the families, she takes a personal interest in all the kids she works with,” Briscoe said.

One of such kids was David Murray, now an economics student at UMBC who went to Yorktown Elementary School when growing up in Bowie.

“She was amazing,” said Murray explaining how pivotal of a role Goldberg-Strassler  played in his life and academic and professional goals.

Murray went to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in their Science and Technology curriculum where he also served as the student member on the Maryland State Board of Education

In the 2010 elections, Murray ran against incumbent Rosalind Johnson for the District 1 seat on the Prince George's County school board, losing the race by less than 300 votes.

Murray said that were it not for Goldberg-Stassler, he would have never had such a strong interest in government. He explained how she would try to get students involved in things like the student council at a young age, which is how he got his start.

“It’s a huge deal that Mrs. G.S. is leaving,” said Murray. “ Yorktown is really a reflection of the work she’s done here.”

PTA President Joyce Correll described Goldberg-Strassler as a “pillar of the community” and added, “she might have the biggest heart of anybody I’ve ever met.”

With budget cuts, Yorktown is losing their full-time guidance counselor, physical education teacher and media specialist. That's something both Correll and past PTA President Michaele Angulo said will have a huge negative impact on the school and the quality of education for the students.

Correll explained how much Goldberg-Strassler cares for the kids she works with at Yorktown saying, “She does everything with the kids. She has lunch with them, takes them outside, she just really cares about each individual child.”