2013 School Counselor of the Year Award
In November of 2012, I had the honor and privilege of being named the 2013 School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor's Association. With this award has come many opportunities to speak out about the importance of professional school counselors at all grade levels. Being a part of the Pendergast School District Counseling Team has been an amazing experience. We work in a district that not only supports school counseling, but encourages us to follow the ASCA National Model! With this support, we are able to provide for students what they need most from us - A Comprehensive School Counseling Program that focuses on the academic, career and personal/social development of EVERY student in our district! In January I was invited, along with Mrs. Prielipp, our principal, and Dr. Ron Richards, our Superintendent to attend a 3 day event in Washington DC. Here, we were able to meet with Sentators McCain and Flake to discuss the importance of school counselors. We also spent time with the U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary of Education, Deb Delisle and had a photo taken with Arnie Duncan! This was a once in a lifetime event and I couldn't be happier to represent school counselors, Arizona, the Pendergast School District and most importantly Sunset Ridge students!
On this page I will share photos of the events I participate in over the coming year. I will also provide links to articles and interviews that I have taken part in. Please feel free to email me any time if you have questions or comments about this amazing experience!
In November of 2012, I had the honor and privilege of being named the 2013 School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor's Association. With this award has come many opportunities to speak out about the importance of professional school counselors at all grade levels. Being a part of the Pendergast School District Counseling Team has been an amazing experience. We work in a district that not only supports school counseling, but encourages us to follow the ASCA National Model! With this support, we are able to provide for students what they need most from us - A Comprehensive School Counseling Program that focuses on the academic, career and personal/social development of EVERY student in our district! In January I was invited, along with Mrs. Prielipp, our principal, and Dr. Ron Richards, our Superintendent to attend a 3 day event in Washington DC. Here, we were able to meet with Sentators McCain and Flake to discuss the importance of school counselors. We also spent time with the U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary of Education, Deb Delisle and had a photo taken with Arnie Duncan! This was a once in a lifetime event and I couldn't be happier to represent school counselors, Arizona, the Pendergast School District and most importantly Sunset Ridge students!
On this page I will share photos of the events I participate in over the coming year. I will also provide links to articles and interviews that I have taken part in. Please feel free to email me any time if you have questions or comments about this amazing experience!
AZ Central and Channel 12 News
Sunset Ridge students and staff surprised me in November with a special assembly in my honor. Channel 12 News and AZ Central were there to record the entire event. Click on the picture to the left to watch the video and read the great article about my wonderful surprise.
Education Talk Radio
In February I was interviewed by Larry Jacobs of Education Talk Radio. Click the picture to the right to listen to the entire radio interview!
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers interviewed me while in Washington DC. Click the picture to the left to see the article and wonderful video that they produced about school counselors.
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called me to discuss the best ways to work with students following a disaster. You can find the complete article by clicking the link above or the picture to the left.
Ask.Listen.Learn
Ask.Listen.Learn mentioned me in their blog!! Click the picture to the left to see what they wrote! I was also a guest blogger for them recently. My blog discusses how parents are the first line of defense in substance abuse prevention, it is titled Make A Date With Your Child.
Club Ophelia
Cheryl Dellasega, author of books focused on Relational Aggression and creator of Club Ophelia included me in her blog!
Education Nation
After a recent Town Hall meeting with students and teachers, Channel 12's Kim Covington discovered just how much students and teachers are begging for more school counselors in their schools! Check out the video here.
Local Job Network
I Want to Be a School Counselor! I recently did an interview with the Local Job Network answering questions about what it takes to become a school counselor! Check it out here.
Learning First Alliance
I had the privilege of representing school counselors through and interview with Learning First Alliance. The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of 15 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. Check it out here.
Watch D.O.G.S. Radio Interview
What a great program! Today I had the opportunity to speak with Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Radio. I'm always inspired by parents who are able to find that perfect balance between providing for their families and being an active participant in their son or daughter's education! Can't wait to learn more about this program and bring more fathers into our school! To listen to my interview, click here
Data recently released as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection effort noted that just 66 percent of Arizona high schools had access to school counselors, ranking the state the fourth lowest in the nation. Thankfully, the Arizona Republic reached out the AzSCA board members to get the facts about what school counselors are doing students each day!
What is the current role of a 21st Century School Counselor and how can teachers best work with counselors for the benefit of students. Listen to this short podcast I did with Larry Ferlazzo from Education Week Magazine. Larry writes a fantastic blog for Education Week! Check out this post that I, and several other School Counselors contributed to.
So glad that be a part of this great article by Glenn Cook for ASCD. Our profession has changed drastically in the last 15 years! And we are most definitely 'Not Your Mother's School Counselor!". Please share this with anyone you know who needs an update about the role of the Professional School Counselor!
Miracles are happening in School Counseling! The first week in February is National School Counseling Week and several school counselors will be flying to Washington DC to see the First Lady, Michelle Obama, recognize the 2015 School Counselor of the Year, Finalists and Semi-finalists! I am honored to have been invited to witness this historic event. Edutopia recently wrote a great article about the value of Professional School Counselors and were kind enough to share information about the counseling program at Sunset Ridge.
ASCA School Counselor Magazine included articles about all of the finalists in the March/April edition. Check out the articles and photos from DC below.
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2014 School Counselor of the Year Events, Washington D.C.
In January of 2014 I had the privilege of attending the School Counselor of the Year events again in Washington DC. This time escorting Arizona's Melissa Beverly, a finalist to visit with our legislatures. I also had the opportunity to speak again at the gala before passing the "crown" on to 2014 ASCA School Counselor of the Year, Robin Zorn! Here are a few photos from this fantastic event.
2015 School Counselor of the Year Events, Washington, D.C.
After the last two years I never thought I would make it back to DC for the School Counselor of the Year events again but my luck just does not seem to run out! This year, for the first time in HISTORY, the White House recognized the 2015 School Counselor of the Year, Cory Notestine! And I had the privilege of being invited to witness this historic event! I have also been working closely with a group of committed College and Career Advocates in the state of Arizona to make a commitment toward the First Lady's Reach Higher Initiative. In November of 2014 we were invited to attend the 2nd White House Convening held at San Diego State University! This is such an amazing time to be a Professional School Counselor!