Counseling Department Staff

Sarah Martin (formerly Nelson)

Counselor for Last Names A - K

Sarah attended California State University Northridge where she obtained her BA in Liberal Studies with the original goal of becoming a teacher. Through her time working as a camp counselor, she discovered her passion for helping and having meaningful goal oriented conversations with the youth. She then moved on to obtain her Masters of Education in School Counseling at Lewis & Clark College. Sarah feels lucky to be working her dream job at such an amazing school as Gardiner. On her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, playing board games, traveling to new places, and snuggling her cats.

Kelly Shelton

Counselor for Last Names L - Z
preferred pronouns: she/her

Kelly attended Pacific University where she obtained a BS in Biology and Spanish. After working as an bilingual Instructional Assistant, Kelly discovered a passion for connecting families and students to community resources while learning their stories of origin. While this is Kelly's 18th year as a School Counselor, the first 15 years were dedicated to high school youth. Since moving to middle school in 2018, she has learned to appreciate the passion, energy and humor middle school students bring to the learning community. Kelly is a proud mother to three kids, a wife, and three dogs. In her free time, Kelly loves OrangeTheory, to read, to fish with her family and paddleboard Oregon's waters.

Caryn Peters

Counseling Secretary & Registrar

Hi!  I am the Counseling Secretary and Registrar at Gardiner Middle School.  I have been working at Gardiner for the past 14 years.  I enjoy using my skills to assist families, students and staff members in any way I can.  This job has caused me to stretch and grow in many ways over the years, which is always a challenge in the moment, but in the end brings the feeling of accomplishment.  My job is full of variety, and every day is different, which is one of the things I like.  I am a wife and mother, and in my off-work hours enjoy time with family & friends, as well as gardening, reading, singing and working with children at my church.

Adam Hansen

Student Support

Hey Hawks! I’m Adam Hanson, I am Gardiner’s Behavioral Intervention Specialist, and going into my 5th year with OCSD. You can find me in the Student Support Room in school. Outside of Gardiner, I am a father of two elementary level kiddos that keep me incredibly busy. When I am not at work or being a parent, I enjoy going to Timbers and Blazers games, and doing almost anything outside. I am a student as well, I am currently attending Oregon State, working on my B.S. in psychology, then planning to complete my master’s in School Counseling. I feel incredibly lucky to be at G.M.S. working with middle schooler’s, to get to participate in their educational journey, and watch them grow throughout their three short years here.