Meet Your Counselors
Our mission is to help you reach your potential and discover your interest and passion. We are dedicated to helping you grow academically, socially, and professionally. We stand by our motto "Focusing on the whole child and achieving Excellence".
As your counselor, we are committed to all of our Pearl Junior High students, and we will assist you with reaching your academic goals. Learn more about the services we offer on the Counselor's Utopia page.
We are here for YOU!
LET'S GO PIRATES!!!
Counselors
6th Grade
Ms. Brigit Nelson
Ms. Nelson brings a strong academic and professional background to her role as a school counselor. She holds an Associate’s degree in Business and Office Technology, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Specialist degree in School Counseling from a CACREP-accredited program. In addition, she is a certified Vocational School Counselor. Before transitioning into school counseling, Ms. Nelson taught Career Discovery and Information & Communication Technology I and II, all at Pearl Junior High School.
7th Grade
Mrs. Courtney Matthews
Courtney F. Matthews is a National Board-Certified School Counselor with over a decade of experience, most recently serving 10th and 11th grade students at Pearl High School. She has supported students through academic planning, social-emotional counseling, and college and career readiness, while also coordinating programs such as AP/PSAT testing, 504 plans, and federal services for EL, foster, and homeless students.
Before becoming a counselor, Mrs. Matthews taught music at the elementary through high school levels. She holds Master’s and Specialist degrees in School Counseling from Mississippi College and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Delta State University.
She is excited to start her 20th year in education by joining the Pearl Junior High staff as the 7th grade counselor.
8th Grade
Dr. Crystal Gray
Dr. Gray holds a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies and Elementary Education from Jackson State University, along with multiple teaching endorsements. Her dedication to education and personal growth led her to earn a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Mississippi College in 2012, followed by an Educational Specialist degree in Counseling in 2013. She continued to expand her expertise by earning a second Educational Specialist degree in Administration and Leadership in 2019, also from Mississippi College. In addition, Dr. Gray earned her Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also enriched her academic journey through international studies at the University of Alicante in Spain.
Parent/Teacher Conferences can be scheduled by contacting your child's counselor.
Conferences are held Monday - Friday from 7:45 AM until 8:15 AM.