Kelloggsville — West Kelloggsville social worker Brian Garcia-Palacios sat at a table with Young Five student Calvin Broden and showed him how to use scissors to cut a paper apple while Calvin talked about his day.

Garcia-Palacios listened carefully, offered suggestions, and reminded Calvin to reach out to his teacher if he needed anything.

Being a supportive presence for Kelloggsville students is important to Garcia-Palacios; It is the community that nourished him throughout his education.

“I was always trying out different clubs and activities within and outside the district and everyone supported me in doing so,” he said. “That’s why I wanted to give something back to the district and support the students and staff who helped me along the way.”

Making and Exploding Rockets

Raised in a bilingual home with roots in Mexico and Guatemala, Garcia-Palacios began her K-12 education at Kelloggsville Early Education Center.

‘It was my Kelloggsville community that allowed me to branch out and do what I do, and by building that community and encouraging teamwork, we can do the same for the next one.’

–- Brian Garcia-Palacios, West Kelloggsville social worker and 2018 graduate

He spent most of his time in the district by participating in TEAM 21 during his primary school years, and later in band, football and basketball.

“The mentors I have had have taken the time to talk to me, listen to me, and let me try new things,” he recalled, noting that his mentors include middle school counselor Laura Kuperus and current middle school principal Chad Morrow. “The interaction was always positive and supportive.”

His family was also supportive and instilled the value of education.

“They showed us that there were two paths: work or education (the latter), they believed there were more resources and opportunities,” Garcia-Palacios said. “They encouraged us to create a dream and let us know that there are other things out there, jobs where you can make a difference.”

With those words in mind, Garcia-Palacios said she strives to succeed in school. He graduated from Kelloggsville High School in 2018.

As a first-generation college student at Aquinas College, she made connections through Aquinas’ Student Services that “made her feel welcomed and encouraged and helped me grow academically.”

Her intention was to earn a degree in exercise science thanks to all the activities she participated in at Kelloggsville, but the psychology class — “I really loved it,” she said — changed all that.

While serving as Aquinas’ basketball manager, he discovered his passion for becoming a school counselor. As a pregame motivator, he recalled having “tough discussions” with players, providing them with guidance and being a listening ear.

Rocket Comes Home

Garcia-Palacios, who calls himself a “Rocket for life,” said it was always his goal to return to Kelloggsville.

“It brought (me) a sense of community,” he said of the area. “I grew up here and this is where I belong and I can make a difference.”

She returned to Kelloggsville in 2022 as an instructional support staff member and was appointed the following year as an academic intervention specialist, where she quickly connected with students.

“I really enjoy working in the lower primary school. “You see so much growth and progress in these students, whether it’s learning their colors or numbers or gaining confidence in communication.”

Garcia-Palacios was appointed school counselor in West Kelloggsville this fall and will graduate from Western Michigan University in December with a master’s degree in educational counseling.

Now as a counselor, Garcia-Palacios said she is passionate about serving as a bridge for Latino and Hispanic families and ensuring they have the resources and support they need.

“I want to show students that their dreams can extend beyond what they see,” he said. “There’s a whole world of possibilities waiting for them.”

Garcia-Palacios is also committed to creating a sense of community at the school, drawing on her own experiences as a student. This fall, she organized West Kelloggsville’s first community walk, which included food, books and community resources.

Garcia-Palacios said that because of her experiences as a first-generation college student from a Spanish-speaking home, she hopes to be a resource for families and an example to students in the area about the variety of opportunities available to them.

“We cannot expand if we only act on what we see and what we have grown with,” he said. “So I develop a sense of community. “It was my Kelloggsville community that allowed me to branch out and do the work I do, and by building that community and encouraging teamwork, we can do the same for the next one.”

Read more from Kelloggsville:
• Horses help students overcome obstacles and build self-confidence
• Learning to do good sports