Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Thrash.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My Story: How I Started and How I Got Here
In 2009, I started my career as a classroom teacher, knowing from an early age that I wanted to work in education. A few years into teaching, I returned to school to earn my master’s degree in school counseling. I loved helping students recognize their strengths, meeting with families, and guiding them through the many options available after high school. Supporting students as they turned big decisions into clear next steps quickly became a passion.
Three years into being a school counselor, everything shifted. In 2018, Texas introduced the statewide College, Career, and Military Readiness initiative. My lead school counselor at Sachse High School asked me to create a GO Center for our campus. I poured my heart into designing a dedicated hub where students could receive support for every part of their post-secondary preparation and planning. In the fall of 2019, the GO Center opened its doors. Students visited daily to complete applications, research careers, explore military pathways, and search for scholarships. Our FAFSA completion, application submission, and acceptance rates increased, and our accountability rating improved. The GO Center soon became the district model and inspired campuses across Texas to build their own GO Centers.
When COVID hit, I needed to reimagine how to support students. I created a simple Google Site to keep guidance accessible from home. That small site quickly grew into a complete resource hub that now serves families nationwide and internationally.
As my work expanded, I saw the impact a clear CCMR message could have on students, families, and entire school systems. I began partnering with school counseling teams to strengthen CCMR programs, streamline processes, and build consistent, student-centered systems. That led to new opportunities. I have spoken at multiple Education Service Centers, presented to school counselors at Lone Star State School Counselor Conferences, and contributed to summits focused on student readiness. Each experience deepened my commitment to practical, equitable support for all students.
In 2022, CCMR with Ms. Thrash LLC was created from that passion. I founded the company to expand the reach of the work I do, developing tools, trainings, resources, and student-friendly guidance that make post-secondary planning clear and empowering. Whether I am helping a student navigate their next step, assisting a family with financial aid, or working with school counselors to build strong CCMR systems, student success remains at the center of everything I do.
In 2024, I transitioned into my current role as a CTE and CCMR Coordinator. I now support dual credit, Advanced Placement, CTE pathways, and district-wide post-secondary readiness. My experience as a teacher, school counselor, and 504 Coordinator allows me to design supports that honor the needs and strengths of every learner.
I am grateful to serve so many incredible communities. My mission stays rooted in possibility. Every student deserves a pathway. Every educator deserves support. And every campus deserves a clear, consistent CCMR message that helps young people thrive.
CCMR with Ms. Thrash is the result of that belief and the passion that has guided my entire journey. My dream is to one day step fully into this work as my sole role, continuing to help students plan, prepare, and build futures they feel proud of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say I’ve faced major challenges, but I have experienced natural limitations along the way. Time is the biggest one. I’m constantly developing new ideas and new ways to support students, families, and school counselors, and balancing those ideas with the reality of a full-time 8 to 5 role can be tough. It’s less of a struggle and more of a continual balancing act as I work to bring each idea to life in a meaningful and thoughtful way.
Another limitation has been the financial aspect. Most of what I create, including resources, tools, trainings, and website content, is produced without outside funding or sponsorship. Everything is built from my own salary because I believe deeply in the mission and the impact it has on others. It’s meaningful work, but it does require careful planning and prioritizing.
One of my ongoing goals is learning how to grow the platform sustainably. I want to strengthen the business side, increase visibility and SEO, and expand the reach of CCMR with Ms. Thrash so the work becomes both impactful and profitable. I’m committed to building something that supports students and educators while also allowing the platform to thrive long term.
Even with these limitations, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. Each step reinforces why I do this work and inspires me to keep creating, growing, and finding new ways to serve.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work centers on helping students, families, and educators navigate every part of the post-secondary journey with clarity and confidence. Through CCMR with Ms. Thrash, I support K–12 campuses by creating practical, easy-to-use resources that make planning for college, careers, and the military feel straightforward and accessible. I have tools for every grade level because readiness starts early, and students thrive when guidance is available at each stage of their journey.
I am known for turning complex processes into simple, student-friendly systems. Whether it’s scholarships, applications, military pathways, or step-by-step guidance for post-secondary planning, I focus on making information understandable and actionable. I love taking something that feels overwhelming and turning it into a resource that students and school counselors can use with confidence.
I also create content and trainings that help school counseling teams build strong CCMR structures on their campuses. Many of my resources include checklists, guides, timelines, templates, and digital tools that streamline communication and improve consistency. School counselors often share that my materials bring clarity to their work and save them time, which is something I value deeply.
I never meant for any of this to happen, but I am incredibly proud of what has grown from a simple idea. Hearing how helpful these resources are and receiving messages from students, families, and school counselors means so much to me. The impact these tools have made and the feedback I receive keep me motivated and thankful. I love getting to help so many people, and I am honored every time someone uses something I created to support a student’s future.
One of the biggest ways I share my work is through social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where I regularly post guidance for K–12 students, families, and educators.
What sets my work apart is the combination of hands-on school counseling experience, a deep understanding of student needs, and the creativity behind each resource. I understand what students need to feel confident, and I understand what educators need to guide them effectively. I am known for being approachable, student-centered, and focused on creating tools that work in real schools with real students.
Everything I create is designed to empower students to plan and prepare, while also supporting the educators who guide them. My passion is helping young people discover their path, and I am grateful that CCMR, with Ms. Thrash, has become a place where students and educators can find the clarity and tools they need to thrive.
What does success mean to you?
I define success by the impact my work has on students, families, and educators. When a student feels confident about their next step, when a parent finally understands a process that once felt overwhelming, or when a school counselor tells me a resource made their day easier, that is success. It shows that the work is making a real difference.
Success is when people walk away feeling empowered, not confused. When someone uses a resource I created and feels more prepared because of it, that is success.
I also see success through growth. Every time a student discovers a new opportunity, every time an educator strengthens their CCMR systems, and every time I learn something that improves my work, I see meaningful progress.
If what I build helps someone plan, prepare, or feel hopeful about their future, then I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do. Any time I help someone feel more confident, less stressed, and more supported through the process, that is success to me.
Pricing:
- $100 for for a 1:1 planning session per hour (no commitment)
- $10 to download my scholarship form
- Group presentations varies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ccmrwithmsthrash.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccmrwithmsthrash/ NEW
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccmrwithmsthrashllc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smthrash/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ccmrmsthrash
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ccmrwithmsthrash
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/ccmrwithmsthrash/ OLD
Image Credits
Melissa Vaughan Photography
