Elementary Counselor of the Year

Dedication and steadfastness describes Marie. Her love for her job and the students and staff she works with is evident. She continually works to come up with new ideas to make learning fun and productive in her school and community. She looks for variety whether it be in organizing school wide "TV Turn Off Week" campaigns, mental health poster competitions where her students are very successful, or "Random Acts of Kindness" activities. She spearheads activities for her elementary students to promote safety and nonalcoholic participation in prom and graduation activities for juniors and seniors. She is creative, innovative and always ready to share.

Pat Jones
St. James Licensed School Counselor

Elementary School Counselor of the Year

Our district has been extremely fortunate to have Nancy as our elementary counselor; but more importantly, our elementary children have benefited the most from the every day life skills Nancy has given them through her individual, small group and classroom activities. She truly makes a positive difference for our elementay students.

Sue Mattson
Assistant Superintendent

It is rewarding to see the impact that one elementary counselor can have on a large system. I feel Nancy has made a significant difference in the lives of so many and continues to be an unbelievable asset to our educational world!

Sue Miskovich
Elementary Principal

Secondary/Multilevel School Counselor of the Year

Like Jimmy Stewart's chacter in "It's a Wonderful Life", Jim has made an enormous, positive difference in the GRHS community for over thirty years. Where would we be without him and his good work?

Jan Bilden
Grand Rapids Licensed School Counselor

Post-Secondary School Counselor of the Year

Working with Lon as my counseling colleague these past eight years has been a joy. His kindred spirit is wonderfully refreshing to experience day in and day out. Lon is always very concerned about the well-being of others and takes time to make people a priority in his life. Whether it be a student, faculty or staff member who crosses his path he makes them feel appreciated and welcome in the first few minutes of an encounter. I firmly believe it is a worthy accomplishemnt to achieve such a high level of consistent caring throughout one's counseling profession. For we all know that there are plenty of days that tap our wells dry. However, Lon has a unique skill of being able to always share a smile and supportive word for others. It is truly an honor to work with my good friend Lon Laager and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Jennifer Parta Arno
MSCTC Licensed School Counselor

Administrator of the Year

David Battaglia
Carlton Senior High

Dave has been an advocate for the counseling position's importance in the life of a school. He has a part-time grad. technician to order state assessments, arrange test logistics and keep track of student results as well as aid in curriculum development. Another teacher is assigned to Tech. Prep. meetings and delivery, another to administering the grant to prevent bullying, and a full time person administers the campus program - completing all the scheduling and record keeping including transcript information (upon consultation) and GPAs. These are examples of Dave's foresight at allowing the counselor to have time and energy to fulfill professional duties in the classroom, with individuals, and as part of a team of service providers. Even though the 7-12 student numbers continue to decline somewhat, reduction of the counselor position has not been raised. Dave supports the position and makes sure it is manageable.
Wendy Williamson (full letter)

What an asset to school counselors! Dave exemplifies ASCA's commitment to school counselors. He has been an advocate for our association by allowing us to do what we do best - be school counselors. His approach to counseling compliments our national model. Dave has always provided counselors with the tools and time to access our most important issue - our students.
Lee Oling (full letter)

As a faculty member, I feel that Mr. Battaglia brings a quality of excellence to our school. All employees are treated as professionals and feel we play an important role in the education of our students. We are all aware of the high expectations he sets and the atmosphere of respect and positive learning created by this working environment. He promotes professional growth as a member of our staff development committee and by encouraging individuals to further their education.
Deb Saunders (full letter)

Potential School Counselor Scholarship

Julia Harrison

Julie Harrison comes as a future professional to the field of school counseling with a tremendous amount of natural talents and experiences. Ms. Harrison is a nontraditional student who has a wealth of knowledge with children and adolescents due to her employment as an educational assistant at a unique elementary school in the Mankato district known as Bridges Community School. This school-not a charter, but operated by the Mankato district-uses character education as the foundation for its curriculum. Because of the way the school is operated (it is a "community" in every sense of the word since everyone plays a role in student success), Ms. Harrison has been included in the implementation of the character education lessons throughout grades K-5. She is helping put into practice, through the school setting in which she works, a curriculum which can serve as the basis for most, if not all, of her future lessons as an elementary school counselor.

Ms. Harrison is a "student of life" in all senses of the phrase. Her background is in English and creative writing (two master's degrees) and she has put that knowledge to practice by working with students all across the educational spectrum. She has taught creative writing to elementary and secondary students identified as gifted. She has served as a special education paraprofessional. Utilizing judicious discipline, restorative justice, and conflict mediation approaches, she supervised an in-school suspension program at the elementary level. Though many teachers wanted to send students to in-school suspension as a punishment, Ms. Harrison saw such time as the best kind of learning opportunity for those students to explore the ways in which their decisions contributed to their suspensions. While serving as an academic advisor at a local business college, Julie crystallized her interest in the counseling profession. "Academic advising," it seems, had little to do with academic advising. She has seen first hand across the K-16 spectrum how personal issues impact students' abilities to learn and how what is learned (or not!) ultimately shapes the career decisions and opportunities that they have.

Minnesota State University, Mankato, is proud to have Ms. Harrison as a graduate of its Professional School Counseling Program and MSCA will be proud of the work that Ms. Harrison will do for the children and families with whom she serves.

MSCA-Wellstone Legacy Award

Brooke Magid Hart, Advisor
S.A.L.S.A. (Student Alliance for Leadership in Social Action)

• Sponsored a Rock the Vote campaign to register new voters in 2004
• Sponsored voter registration drives to encourage all 18-year-old at Spring Lake High School to register and vote in the 2006 elections
• Researched the school lunch program and worked with the school district to offer healthy alternatives
• Raised funds for tsunami and Hurricane Katrina surviors
• Addressed the need to improve maintenance and upkeep of the high school restrooms
• Produced a film within the high school addressing racism on campus

SALSA receives no funding from the high school or the district. They
have no budget. The two advisors, Brooke Magid Hart and Lisa Marohn,
volunteer their time, materials, and hearts to keep the organization vibrant.
The organization is open to all students in grades 9-12 and, as you might
well expect, there is no membership criteria to join except a willingness
to work to make our world a better place.

MSCA proudly awards the 2006 Paul Wellstone Legacy Award to the
Student Alliance for Leadership in Social Action (SALSA) of Spring Lake Park
High School.

Web link: http://www.springlakeparkschools.org/athletics andactivities/activities/salsa/default.htm