Throughout her time as a school counselor at Raytown Middle School, Cynthia Gerdes has been an advocate for her students. She contacts parents on a regular basis, keeping the communication lines open between home and school. She informs parents of issues involving their children. She celebrates their successes. She motivates kids to see the value in attending school. She recognizes them when they make efforts to get there. And when a student doesn\u2019t show up for school, Gerdes gets to the bottom of it, even making home visits. In essence, she fights for her students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But now, Gerdes is fighting a different battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2018, Gerdes is still thinking about her students as she continues the fight for her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLife knocks you down at times, but you have to keep getting up,\u201d said Gerdes. It\u2019s the same message of perseverance she\u2019s conveyed to her students from the start. It\u2019s also the same message she shares with her athletes through her role as a cross country coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKeep trying,\u201d she says. \u201cYou may not succeed the first time, but don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally from St. Louis, Gerdes recalled always loving school but struggling through the middle school years. With a desire to help students through the emotions and challenges that come with the pivotal age, Gerdes pursued an education specialist degree from UMKC with an emphasis in school counseling. Already having earned her master\u2019s degree in marriage and family therapy\/counseling from the University of Missouri, Saint Louis, Gerdes put her skills to work, accepting the position of school counselor at Raytown Middle School in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a passion for bringing out the best in her students and helping them learn to overcome obstacles, Gerdes quickly built a reputation of excellence, was named Middle School Counselor of the Year for the Raytown School District by the Greater Kansas City School Counselors Association in 2017. Despite not being a teacher, she also was recognized as the 2017-18 Exemplary Teacher of the Year at Raytown Middle, simply because she displayed all of the characteristics of the award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCynthia is an incredibly inspiring woman,\u201d said Christina Lively, Department Vice Presidents of Marketing and Communications for Blue KC. \u201cShe\u2019s helped countless students overcome the challenges of school and life during her time at Raytown Middle School, and she\u2019s helping them now in a much different way, serving as an inspiration and example of perseverance. We wish her all the best and are proud to honor her as a Blue KC Sporting Samaritan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For her excellence as a counselor and as a coach, Gerdes was recognized on the pitch prior to the Sporting KC game against Montreal on March 30, 2019. Remaining at home to continue her fight against cancer, Gerdes was represented by Kyle and Gerdes\u2019 other son, Aaron, who accepted the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan honor on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is optimistic yet forward individual,\u201d said Gerdes\u2019 son Kyle. \u201cHer no-nonsense attitude helps her coach her students to excel and pass each grade, and helps them get over emotional issues they face in day-to-day life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Program<\/p> <\/div>\n