Johnston County Public Schools celebrated National School Counseling Week 2025, from February 3-7, 2025. This year’s theme is ‘School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive.” National School Counseling Week, presented by American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The week of celebration provides the district an opportunity to recognize school counselors for being actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents and caregivers as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.
“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills,” said Jill Cook, ASCA executive director. “School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”
Nearly 100 Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) counselors joined more than 100,000 school counselors nationwide to participate in the week’s festivities. Many schools hosted special events and activities to call attention to the countless benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program.
On Friday, February 7, 2025, school counselors were recognized at the JCPS School Counselor Celebration. They were treated to brunch, giving the school counselors an opportunity to network and exchange ideas and strategies with their fellow peers. The celebration also included guest speakers, Army Staff Sergeant Eli Segal, Johnston County Board of Education Chair Lyn Andrews, and keynote speaker School Counseling Consultant for NC Department of Public Instruction Dr. Kisha Bryant.
During the event Lauren Scales, Riverwood Elementary’s counselor, was named the 2024-2025 JCPS School Counselor of the Year. Scales has been an elementary school counselor for 13 years, and her love for the children of JCPS is her driving force. When asked about being in the profession for 13 years and former students, Mrs. Scales’ humble response was, “The best part is that they (the students) still recognize me and they feel as though I genuinely care for them and their wellbeing many years later!”
Parents or community members with specific questions about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their local schools.
More general information can also be found on ASCA’s website, www.schoolcounselor.org, the JCPS website and JCPS social media platforms.