2019 PSCA Elementary School Counselor of the Year
I am currently finishing my eighth year as a professional school counselor at R.D. Wilson Elementary, part of the Western Wayne School District in Waymart, PA. Over the years I’ve built a comprehensive school counseling program, using the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model as a template. I am blessed to be a part of so many school-wide programs, including our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and 339 College and Career Readiness programs. I conduct classroom lessons for 300 students in grades K-12, run support groups, and provide individual counseling, consultations, and referrals. My school counseling program was recently certified as a Recognized ASCA-Model Program, a distinction shared with only a dozen other schools across Pennsylvania. I was also named Pennsylvania’s 2020 school counselor of the year and celebrated this in Washington, D.C. with the other 49 state SCOYs. Using these accolades as a talking point, I’ve met with several local legislators to educate them on the modern-day school counselor, and how decreased student-to-counselor ratios can benefit the students of Pennsylvania. I am also active in our local organization, The School Counselors of NEPA, where I currently serve as president-elect. I’ve maintained a strong connection with Marywood, serving both as a site supervisor and adjunct instructor for graduate school counseling courses. I also serve on the Advisory Council and several discussion panels. My time at Marywood University has impacted my professional character in immeasurable ways. Most importantly, as students, we were always encouraged to hold ourselves to the highest of standards. I see this reflected in the continued evolvement of the programming at Marywood, and I see this in my own core values as a school counselor. I continue to maintain professional relationships with some of my Marywood Professors, especially Dr. Barna. It’s been eight years since I graduated, but she will offer me her sage consult whenever it is needed. The continued symbiotic relationship between my professional life and Marywood speaks to the deep roots that the educational programs have with their students.
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