SCHOOL COUNSELOR ADVOCATE AWARDS |
FSCA recognizes excellence in outstanding advocacy for school counseling and school counselors in the state of Florida with three School Counselor Advocate Awards:
- School Counselor Advocate: School, Community, Family. This award recognizes a person or organization whose advocacy contributed and/or influenced a school or district-wide school counseling program.
- School Counselor Advocate: District Leader. This award recognizes a district supervisor whose advocacy and excellence in leadership supported delivery of school counseling programs.
- School Counselor Advocate: School Based Administrator. This award recognizes an administrator whose advocacy and outstanding leadership has invested in their school counselor(s) to deliver a school counseling program.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR ADVOCATE: SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, FAmILY
Eligibility
Nominees must:
- be a school board member, parent, teacher, school support staff, school counselor educator, community leader, or organization who has consistently made a significant contribution to the improvement of school counseling services in the school setting; and
- be nominated by a FSCA member.
Nomination Packet
- Cover sheet with personal contact information of nominee.
- Three letters of support, one letter from a FSCA member. Letters specifically detail the following:
- Describe at least two specific examples how the nominee has provided exemplary support of school counseling services.
- Describe how the nominee has promoted school counseling services.
All nomination elements should be uploaded as ONE packet with NOMINEE’S last name and award name.
Timeline
| April 14, 2025 | Nominations Open |
| June 30, 2025 at 11:59pm | Deadline to Nominate |
| July 1, 2025-August 29, 2025 | Nominations Reviewed and Scored |
| Week of September 15, 2025 | Nominees Notified Regarding Selection |
School Counselor Advocate: District Leader
Eligibility
Nominee must:
- be employed as a full-time coordinator, director, or supervisor of district school counseling;
- have completed at least three years of service as a school counseling district leader;
- have consistently made a significant contribution to the improvement of school counseling services in the school setting;
- be nominated by a FSCA member; and,
- be a current FSCA member.
Nomination Packet
- Cover sheet with personal contact information of nominee.
- Three letters of support, one letter from a FSCA member. Letters specifically detail the following:
- Describe how the nominee specifically initiated data driven school counseling programs.
- What innovative school counseling services has this nominee implemented.
- Describe how the nominee improved existing school counseling services/programs.
All nomination elements should be uploaded as ONE packet with NOMINEE’S last name and award name.
Timeline
| April 14, 2025 | Nominations Open |
| June 30, 2025 at 11:59pm | Deadline to Nominate |
| July 1, 2025-August 29, 2025 | Nominations Reviewed and Scored |
| Week of September 15, 2025 | Nominees Notified Regarding Selection |
School Counselor Advocate: School-Based Administrator
Eligibility
Nominee must:
- be employed as a full-time school-based administrator (principal, associate/assistant, dean);
- have at least three years of service as a school-based administraotr;
- have consistently made a significant contribution to the improvement of school counseling services in the school setting; and
- be nominated by a FSCA member.
Nomination Packet
- Cover sheet with personal contact information of nominator and nominee.
- Three letters of support, one letter from a FSCA member. Letters specifically detail the following:
- Describe how the nominee supported a data driven school counseling program.
- Describe the significant contributions the nominee made to improve the school counseling program.
- Describe how the nominee recognized the importance of school counseling.
- Describe actions the nominee has taken that demonstrates their commitment to ensuring school counselors are able to deliver a data driven school counseling program.
All nomination elements should be uploaded as ONE packet with NOMINEE’S last name and award name.
Timeline
| April 14, 2025 | Nominations Open |
| June 30, 2025 at 11:59pm | Deadline to Nominate |
| July 1, 2025-August 29, 2025 | Nominations Reviewed and Scored |
| Week of September 15, 2025 | Nominees Notified Regarding Selection |
SCHOOL COUNSELOR ADVOCATE AWARD RECIPIENTS |
2024-2025Larissa Bennett District Leader Advocate Buffy Snipes School-Based Administrator Advocate Debra Hixon School, Community, and Family Advocate |
2023-2024Deidre Skaggs District Leader Advocate Elena Riqueime School-Based Administrator Advocate Dr. Ernest Cox School, Community, and Family Advocate | 2022-2023Ingrid Cruz District Leader Advocate Pat Walker School-Based Administrator Advocate | 2021-2022Rose Roland District Leader Advocate Aaron M. Walker School-Based Administrator Advocate |
2020-2021Jennifer Williams School-Based Administrator Advocate | 2019-2020Jonathan Blair District Leader Advocate Dr. Laura Cohen School-Based Administrator Advocate | 2018-2019Zaida Mesa District Leader Advocate Michelle Kefford School-Based Administrator Advocate Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben School, Community, and Family Advocate |
2017-2018Ralph Aiello District Leader Advocate Scott Schneider School-Based Administrator Advocate Janet Gierhart School, Community, and Family Advocate | 2016-2017Lori Brooks District Leader Advocate Christine Baird School-Based Administrator Advocate | 2015-2016Dr. Randi J. Schietz School Counselor Advocate of the Year Sari S. Myers Administrator of the Year |