Awards

This committee coordinates the nominations and selections for School Counselor of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Educator of the year, and Graduate Student of the Year. In addition, this committee will organize the NSCW School Counselor Recognition Gala.

Committee Chair: Dr. Laura Jones ljones@mscaonline.org

BIO: Laura Jones is an Elementary School Counselor in Frederick County, Maryland. This is her 20^th year, and she still get excited about her work! Laura tries to guide her students in their personal growth by increasing their self acceptance and self esteem, enhancing relationships with others, navigating through difficult situations such as grief and loss, depression and anxiety, stress and anger management, and conflict resolution, and finding joy in their life. She tries to create a safe and caring environment to make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families that she serves in her community.

Laura recently earned a Doctorate Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University. Her dissertation was on the Psychological Benefits of Laughter for School Counselors at Work and Beyond. She hopes to share her research with other school counselors so that they may incorporate laughter into their existing school counseling program.

On a more personal note, Laura has been married to her husband, Jeffrey, for 20 years and they have two very active boys (Riley-age 15, and Dylan-age 13). She serves as a Eucharistic Minister at her church and she is very active in the religious education program there. She comes from a large ethnic family (Lithuanian and Italian) and tries to preserve a level of “closeness” with them. Laura tries to maintain a certain level of fitness for herself. (She leads an after school running program for girls in grades 3-5.) Laura Jones loves to travel and explore new places. And, she is a cancer survivor!

Nomination Guidelines and Information for Nominating Someone for SCOY, AOY, EOY and GSOY

Nominators may submit one nomination per category.
- The nomination deadline is normally at the end of September of the current school year.
Nominees for Maryland School Counselor of the Year must complete the application process to be considered.
- All nominee applications are screened for eligibility prior to review.
- Nominee applications are normally due by mid-November of the current school year.
- Professional recognition at the state level is required for recognition at the national level.

Eligibility for School Counselor of the Year:

The nominee must be employed as a full-time, Maryland-based, practicing school counselor by October 1st of the current school year, and have completed at least five years as a practicing Maryland School Counselor.
The nominee must hold a master’s degree in guidance and counseling or equivalent and be certified as a school counselor by the state of Maryland.
The nominee must be a member of the Maryland School Counselor Association and the American School Counselor Association as of mid-November of the current school year.
Nominees cannot be a previous Maryland School Counselor of the Year.
Nominees must complete the application process to be considered. Applications are normally due mid-November of the current school year.

Criteria for School Counselor of the Year Recognition :

The applicant must demonstrate evidence of implementation of a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program (such as the ASCA National Model) and have been responsible for school counseling innovations or further development of programs supporting students’ career, personal/social and academic development.
The applicant must demonstrate leadership and collaboration in his or her work and promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students to maximize student achievement. Applicants must also demonstrate collaboration with stakeholders.
The applicant must demonstrate continual professional development as well as proof of advocacy for the profession and/or students.
The applicant must have the ability and skills necessary to represent school counseling in a professional manner, including but not limited to high-quality written communication and public-speaking skills.

Eligibility and Criteria for School Counselor Advocate of the Year:

The purpose of this award is to recognize a person or organization whose advocacy of school counseling services in a school setting has had a positive effect on school counseling on a local, state or national level.
Nominee may be any person who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of school counseling services in the school setting.
The nominee has contributed to the implementation of new and/or improvement of existing school counseling programs in Maryland.

Eligibility and Criteria for Principal of the Year:

The purpose of this award is to recognize a principal of a Maryland school who has empowered and enriched the school counseling program.
The nominee has demonstrated support for his or her school’s comprehensive school counseling program.

Eligibility and Criteria for School Counselor Educator of the Year:

The purpose of this award is to recognize a post-baccalaureate instructor in a school counseling preparation program that leads to emerging professionals who are more equipped than their peers to plan and implement a model comprehensive school counseling program.
The nominee has inspired his or her school counseling students to be leaders, advocates, and collaborators as professionals, which leads to the achievement of all students.

Eligibility and Criteria for School Counseling Graduate Student of the Year:

The purpose of this award is to recognize a student in a School Counseling master’s level program in Maryland who is showing tremendous potential to implement a comprehensive school counseling program.
The nominee has shown, through his or her graduate work in classwork and/or internships, the highest level of leadership, counseling skills, advocacy, and collaboration that can be expected of a pre-service school counselor.