Retired Counselor Still a Guiding Light

After more than 20 years of counseling students, Wilma Sauer knows that her job as a volunteer at Brea Canyon High School doesn’t stop at tallying class credits.

Sauer sees her role as that of a sympathetic listener and motivational speaker too.

“Kids need to feel good about themselves and look at the positives,” said Sauer, 69, a 33-year Brea resident. “They just need someone to believe in them. That’s important.”

Sauer retired from Brea-Olinda Unified School District in 1992 after 33 years as a teacher and counselor, but stayed involved in youth activities.

Besides her Tuesday visits to Brea Canyon, she volunteers for Brea Community Center’s youth employment service, arranges women’s history month activities through the American Assn. of University Women and serves on the board of the North Orange County YWCA.

But helping out at the district’s continuation school remains one of her favorite activities.

“Everyone looks down at the continuation school, but these kids are really special,” Sauer said. “A lot of them are real success stories.”

Sauer helps to keep students on track, Brea Canyon Principal Bob Phelps said, and the school is grateful for her help because it cannot afford to hire a counselor.

One senior said that, without Sauer’s sincere interest and tough talking, he would not be graduating: “She’s kept me really motivated. She would say, ‘This is all you have left to do: Either you’re going to do it or I’m going do be mad.’ So, I’m like, ‘OK, I will.’ ”

Sauer said letters and visits from past students keep her motivated.

“You never know whether you make a difference in kids or not,” she said, displaying two hand-written notes that were left for her in Brea Canyon’s office. “The little notes I get back really mean a lot.”