Marika Long was born and raised in Ocala, FL. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Florida A&M University, a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling with an emphasis on Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Webster University and a Specialist of Education degree in Administration and Supervision/Educational Leadership from National Louis University. Ms. Long started her journey as an educator in 2008, teaching English in Ocala, Florida. In 2014, she left the classroom to become a School Counselor. “Being a School Counselor, has afforded me the opportunity to be able to communicate more and gain a better understanding of the daily struggles many students are facing. I have a heart for people and I am excited to join Couch Middle School’s team!”

Vanessa Bronkema is the 7th grade counselor at Couch Middle School. Mrs. Bronkema is originally from Michigan and relocated to Georgia with her family in 2006. She began her educational career working as a high school office clerk. It was here that she rekindled her passion to become a school counselor, a dream of hers since she was a teenager. Mrs. Bronkema pursued her passion at Mercer University in Atlanta, and received her Masters in Professional School Counseling in 2014. She has worked as an elementary school counselor for the past 6 years and is looking forward to her opportunity to serve middle school students in her own community.  “ I have been working with students for the past 13 years at my church and am excited to serve these students as their school counselor”.  Mrs. Bronkema and her husband  Tim have two children, Hannah and Sawyer, and the best dog ever, a Corgi named Bella.

Dr. Azor was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  She relocated to Miami at the age of 17 with her three sisters where she graduated high school.  She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh; then later a Masters degree in School Guidance and Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. In 2018, she earned her Doctorate in Psychology.  Dr. Azor has worked with children ages 3 to 19 for over 20 years, and has been in public education for over 18 years.  Dr. Azor and her husband have one son (17) and one daughter (14).

"I love working with our youth; moreover, I enjoy watching the metamorphosis from youth to adulthood.  I have merged my Haitian culture upbringing, my American assimilation, and my travels into serving all students regardless of their race, religion, socioeconomic status, and disability.  My goal is for every student to know that they always have a choice, that they can learn something in every situation (even the bad ones), and my expectations for them are as high as they are for my own children."