Johnston Reporter

Johnston County Public Schools recently marked National School Counseling Week, which took place from February 3-7, 2025. The theme for this year was "School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive." The event is organized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to highlight the significant role school counselors play in helping students succeed academically and plan their future careers.

The week serves as an opportunity to acknowledge school counselors who run comprehensive counseling programs that are crucial for students facing the challenges of the modern world. It allows the district to appreciate counselors' efforts in assisting students with understanding their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents. Counselors also work closely with parents and caregivers to navigate child-rearing challenges today and focus on enhancing students' academic, career, and social/emotional development.

Jill Cook, ASCA executive director, stated, “School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills.” She emphasized that school counseling programs boost student achievement and serve as a vital resource for students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

Nearly 100 counselors from Johnston County Public Schools joined over 100,000 nationwide participants in the week's events. Many schools organized special activities to showcase the benefits of comprehensive school counseling programs.

On February 7th, JCPS hosted a School Counselor Celebration where counselors were honored with brunch. This event provided them a chance to network and share ideas. Notable speakers included Army Staff Sergeant Eli Segal, Johnston County Board of Education Chair Lyn Andrews, and Dr. Kisha Bryant from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

During this celebration, Lauren Scales from Riverwood Elementary was named the 2024-2025 JCPS School Counselor of the Year. Scales has been dedicated to her role for 13 years and expressed her passion for working with children at JCPS: “The best part is that they (students) recognize me and that I genuinely care for them and their wellbeing!”

For more information about school counseling programs or specific inquiries, parents or community members are encouraged to contact local school counselors or visit ASCA's website or JCPS's online platforms.