My name is Ashley Bahner and I am the counselor responsible for students at Canyon Crest Academy whose last names begin with A-Fa. This is my fourth year at CCA, and during my time here I have come to love and care about this fantastic school and its amazing students and staff.

Even though I know many of you already and am meeting more each day, I thought you might be interested in knowing a little bit more about me and the path that has brought me to where I am today. I was born and raised in Riverside County, CA and attended Hemet High School (just like our very own Athletic Director, Mr. McCullough). While I truly enjoyed growing up in a small town, I had my sites set on something bigger and better: San Diego.  

At the young age of seventeen, I was off on my own and a freshman at the University of San Diego. I chose Communication Studies (with a Media emphasis) as my major and Spanish as my minor. Junior year I spent a semester studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, which was definitely among the most thrilling and valuable experiences that I have ever had. I spent my last two years of undergraduate studies living and working in Mission Beach. 

Although I was passionate about my major, and loved the fact that I was able to write 25-page essays about the cultural impact of “The Bachelor” and Fox News, I wasn’t interested in pursuing any of the related careers. That is when, second semester of my senior year, I finally decided to apply to USD for graduate school and pursue a career in school counseling. 

Just months after graduating from USD in the spring of 2004, I dove straight into my Master’s program. At the start of my second year of graduate studies I was asked to select a school site for my fieldwork experience. I requested that I be placed at a school in North County San Diego, and after being referred to and meeting Mr. Napora, I was completely sold on Canyon Crest Academy.  

I worked as the counseling intern here at CCA for the entire first term of the 05-06 school year. I was also fortunate enough to land a part-time job as the Administrative Assistant for our incredible Envision program which kept me here through June. At the end of the year, when I learned that CCA was looking to hire another counselor, I was overjoyed about the opportunity to continue working with the students and staff that had come to mean so much to me.  

So, all things said and done, here I am here and I couldn’t be happier! I can honestly say that I have found my dream job and I am so thankful.

Please take a look at our counseling website, as it is updated constantly. Many of your general questions can be answered there, including information regarding high school graduation requirements, four-year plans, college admission requirements, scholarships and much, much more!

I can be reached at Ashley.bahner@sduhsd.net or by phone at (858) 350-0253 ext. 4031. I am generally able to respond to emails and phone calls throughout the school day.  If parents are interested in making an appointment, please call extension 4038 to speak with the counseling secretary.

Student appointments can also be scheduled with our counseling secretaries or students may fill out a “Counselor Call-slip” and I will call them out of class during their preferred period.  I am so excited to meet my students, so please come by and say hi!