Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school counselors were recognized for their hard work at a board of education meeting Tuesday night.
Chief Program Officer for Student Services Clinton Wilson presented a proclamation outlining their contributions and recognizing Feb. 6-10 as National School Counseling Week.
“We have matriculated from being called 'guidance counselors' to 'school counselors' because we work with the holistic student socially, emotionally, mentally, and academically, ensuring college and career-readiness, supporting students with their post-secondary endeavors of reaching one of the four E’s: enrollment, employment, enlistment or entrepreneurship,” Wilson said.
The proclamation states that school counseling programs are an “integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school.”
Ronda Mays, the district’s director of family engagement, supported that statement during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“They are some of the ‘sheroes’ and heroes in our district,” Mays said. “They help to make our district and our schools function each and every day. And I know how hard they work, and how integral they are to the functionality of our schools.”
All district counselors were celebrated with this proclamation, but Wilson also specifically recognized the lead counselors for each school level: Lead High School Counselor Kenya Rocker, Lead Middle School Counselor Felicia Tubbs, and Lead Elementary School Counselor Beth Ann Chambers.
Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.