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Poplar High School Welcomes New Advisor

Poplar High School Welcomes New Advisor
MoralesNew Poplar High School career advisor Cindy Morales hopes to help prepare students for careers in the community.(Photo by James Walling)
Poplar High School Welcomes New Advisor
MoralesNew Poplar High School career advisor Cindy Morales hopes to help prepare students for careers in the community.(Photo by James Walling)

Incoming Poplar High School career advisor Cindy Morales was born and raised in Walla Walla, Wash. Her parents are immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala. She graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a bachelor of science in anthropology.

Morales told the Northern Plains Independent that she has been integrated into the community in a variety of roles leading up to the position with the school.

“Over the last year, I have had the pleasure of supporting the past Poplar High School counselor in career and college prep efforts as an AmeriCorps leader,” Morales said. “I was also fortunate to have met the director of the cultural resource department, Dyan Youpee. In both experiences, I have learned about this community and further solidified the belief that traditions and cultural items are important aspects for the wellbeing and mental health of communities.”

Morales described her experiences with CRD as instructive and inspiriting.

“Over the summer, I became the interim museum education outreach coordinator for the Fort Peck Tribes Tribal Museum and Archives. I supported the director with the training and supervision of the summer AmeriCorps members. The summer program was an effort to involve community members with their own history and preservation of cultural items. It was an amazing experience to be a part of. I had the opportunity to assist in a reburial for two Fort Peck ancestors who were finally returned after 100 years and I also was able to assist in the repatriation of several cultural items from the University of Montana. I have no doubt that there will be more to come and more resources for tribal members to connect with their ancestors under director Youpee.

Morales said her hobbies are changeable but currently include a focus on art. “This year I hope to focus more on drawing and painting,” she said. “This is an effort to use art as therapy as I navigate this school year and better provide support to students.”

Morales said she already feels a strong connection with the PHS student body. “I have become fairly attached to the students at PHS and decided to step up to be an advisor,” she said. “Recruitment is still ongoing for a counselor that can help better support these students. This year my goal is to shine a light on all the careers/positions that this community needs filled, so that students will be inspired to become invested members of their own community.”

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