2020-2021 Orange County K-12 School Counselor Recognition Program
Orange County Department of Education recognizes Orange County Counselors for their work through the Counselor Awards Program in two different categories.
Orange County K-12 School Counselor of the Year Award
Instructions:
Any student, parent, colleague, or supervisor may nominate their exemplary School Counselor of choice for the Orange County K-12 School Counselor of the Year Award. Anyone nominating a School Counselor must fill out the online form and submit it by 5:00 pm on Friday, December 18, 2020.
Once the Nomination Form is submitted, the identified School Counselor will receive an email, prompting him/her to complete the School Counselor Form portion of the application. The School Counselor will need to fill out their portion by the stated deadline disclosed in the email.
Once the Nomination Form and the School Counselor Form have been submitted by their deadlines, the entire application will be evaluated by OCDE. We will recognize School Counselors from each of the following: Elementary, Middle/Intermediate and High School level. Award recipients can be from either traditional or continuation/alternative education school sites. All finalists will be notified in January 2021.
Eligibility Criteria:
All applicants for the Orange County K-12 School Counselor of the Year Award will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
A Master's Degree in Educational Counseling (or other related field) with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential
Currently serving any combination of grades K-12 in a public school in Orange County
Selection Criteria:
All applicants for the Orange County K-12 School Counselor of the Year Award will be evaluated using the following selection criteria:
Must demonstrate a commitment to providing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports the developmental needs of K-12 students in all three ASCA domains (Academic, Social-Emotional, Career)
Must demonstrate leadership and advocacy on behalf of the counseling profession
Must demonstrate leadership and support of a Multi-Tiered System of Support through data-based decision making in order to support the needs of the whole child (academic, social-emotional learning, behavior)
Please click here to access the 2020-2021 Orange County K-12 School Counselor of the Year Award Nomination Form.
2020-2021 Orange County K-12 School Counselor Advocate Award
Instructions:
Any counselor may nominate an exemplary School Counselor Advocate for the Orange County K-12 School Counselor Advocate Award. Anyone nominating a School Counselor Advocate must fill out the online form and submit it by 5:00 pm on Friday, January 8, 2021.
Examples of potential nominees include, but are not limited to: K-12 or Community College Leaders, District Superintendents, District Administrators, Site Administrators or other types of supporters for the School Counseling profession.
Once the online form has been submitted by the January 8 deadline, the application will be evaluated by OCDE. Multiple award recipients may be selected each year. All finalists will be notified in January 2021.
Selection Criteria:
Nominees for the Orange County School Counselor Advocate Award will be evaluated using the following selection criteria:
Supports implementation of a comprehensive School Counseling program which incorporates the ASCA National Model
Demonstrates Advocacy for the School Counseling profession
Supports School Counselor leadership role in the implementation of an MTSS model framework promoting instruction and interventions for ALL students
Supports the professional learning needs of School Counselors
Supports School Counselor engagement in ASCA professional duties and demonstrates respect for their prescribed ethical and legal boundaries
Supports the use of data in making decisions that are in the best interest of students
Promotes a positive school climate and culture for students and staff
Please click here to access the 2020-2021 Orange County School Counselor Advocate Award Nomination Form.