RU Student Services

The RU Student Services team is dedicated to providing students and their families support in the pursuit of academic goals, social-emotional development, and post-secondary planning. This work happens through a variety of modalities, including individual meetings/counseling, small group sessions and classroom teaching.

Find out more about various RU Student Services initiatives by visiting the tabs to the below.

Meet the RU Student Services Team

Laurina Fullam, SAP

My name is Laurina Fullam, I am the Student Assistance Program Counselor (SAP) here at RUHS. This is my second year here at RUHS and I look forward to continuing to work with students in multiple capacities. I am a licensed clinical mental health counselor as well as a licensed substance abuse counselor, and I meet with all students grades 7-12. I am available to meet with students to support them in whatever their mental health and/or substance use challenges are. I support students with a variety of issues including school struggles, substance use, neglect, abuse, depression, and suicidality. I enjoy working and living in the greater Randolph community and supporting our students and their families!

728-3397 ext. 1135

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Kayla Manning-French, School Counselor Grades 7-9

My name is Kayla Manning-French and I am the grades 7-9 school counselor at Randolph Union High School. I am a RUHS Alumni and have worked here for the past three years. My role includes helping students navigate different aspects of their lives, as well as doing career and college exploration work both in and out of the classroom.

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Kara Merrill, Director of Student Services, School Counselor Grades 10-12

Hi! My name is Kara Merrill, and I am the Director of Student Services and school counselor for grades 10-12. I have been at RU for the last 18 years, and I love being part of the greater Randolph community. I spend my time at school helping students plan for their future through academic goal-setting and post-secondary exploration. A highlight at the end of every year is to watch students who I have come to know so well walk across the stage to receive their diploma while hearing their future plans! I also love connecting with students through sports, specifically as the middle school and varsity cross country coach.

728-3397 ext. 1143

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Martha Gold, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Martha is the mental health clinician at RU, as well as the junior class advisor. This will be her seventh year at RU, joining the RU community after working at an alternative school in Barre. She meets with students individually, as well as in a group setting. She also co-advises a junior advisory. Martha loves connecting with students through art, crafts and the natural world.

728-3397 ext. 1108

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Mitch Wenz, Social Emotional Learning Coordinator

Mitch Wenz is the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator. This is Mitch's third year at RU, joining the Central Vermont community after spending time supporting students in Alaska. Mitch brings his love for all things outdoors as the program coordinator of outdoor education, which allows students to use hands-on skills to tackle real-world problems. Mitch also spends time after school coaching the E-Sports team.

728-3397 ext. 1124

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Alex Easton, Registrar

What is Student Services Doing?

First Quarter

7th grade newsletter - A newsletter will be sent out in August providing families with information regarding the beginning of the school year and upcoming events
7th Grade Transition Groups - The student services team does introductory lessons at the beginning of the year to meet our new students and have the students get to know us. These lessons focus around community building and learning skills that will help them through their time in middle school.

Outdoor Education - Mitch Wenz, RU’s SEL Coordinator, hosts outdoor based classes that have themes of social emotional learning intertwined with the outdoors and learning practical, hands-on skills.

9th Grade Groups - How to be your authentic self - Student services will be teaching lessons that all focus around students finding their purpose and dive into self exploration.

10 Grade Stress Management Groups - Kara will be running 10th grade groups during advisory to help older students develop healthy ways to deal with the various stressors that older adolescents encounter on a daily basis.
Senior Parent Night, Thursday, September 18th from 6:15-7:15
- Join Kara Merrill and Beth Clay, RU’s VSAC counselor, for a quick presentation about college exploration and a more in depth talk about the college application process and how to pay for college.
NEACAC College Fair at St. Michael’s College, Wednesday, October 8th
- All interested seniors and juniors will go to St. Michael’s College to spend time at the largest college fair of the year, as well as take a tour of St. Mike’s and eat in the dining hall.