| Real success is finding your lifework in the work you love. David McCullough |
| 2008 Award Winners |
| Congratulations to Nadine Bailey, KSCA Counselor of the Year |
Unquestionably talented, dedicated to student success, full of ideas and genuine are just a
few words colleagues used to describe Nadine. An “exceptional counselor in every sense of
the word,” Nadine is a “vital component” of the Student Assistance Team. A pioneer in her
district, Nadine created a PreK-2 Comprehensive Guidance Program for the district and
character education activities and events for two elementary schools. She has also
implemented an after-school tutoring program, called “Study Buddy.”
A caring and compassionate person, Nadine is also deeply involved in her community and
has worked diligently to link community, district, and school resources. The BIGS In School
program has trained and paired high school students in a leadership class with younger
students. Her Second-Step violence prevention program for grades K-2 has been praised
by administrators, teachers and board members alike. Nadine is also a member of many
community organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and serves on the board for
CASA.
A school board member describes Nadine as having “a way of making each student that she
comes into contact with feel ‘special’ and unique. They know that she is genuine when she
celebrates any achievement or victory…and her coworkers know that she can be counted
on because of her dedication, loyalty and availability. People are drawn to Nadine because
she makes them feel that she is truly ‘engaged’ when she is speaking with them. Nadine
has an enthusiastic attitude about her life and her work that is contagious.”
Described by a district-level administrator as one of the district’s “greatest assets”, we are
pleased to honor Nadine Bailey, the Kansas School Counselor Association’s Counselor of
the Year, as a finalist for Kansas Counselor of the Year.
few words colleagues used to describe Nadine. An “exceptional counselor in every sense of
the word,” Nadine is a “vital component” of the Student Assistance Team. A pioneer in her
district, Nadine created a PreK-2 Comprehensive Guidance Program for the district and
character education activities and events for two elementary schools. She has also
implemented an after-school tutoring program, called “Study Buddy.”
A caring and compassionate person, Nadine is also deeply involved in her community and
has worked diligently to link community, district, and school resources. The BIGS In School
program has trained and paired high school students in a leadership class with younger
students. Her Second-Step violence prevention program for grades K-2 has been praised
by administrators, teachers and board members alike. Nadine is also a member of many
community organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and serves on the board for
CASA.
A school board member describes Nadine as having “a way of making each student that she
comes into contact with feel ‘special’ and unique. They know that she is genuine when she
celebrates any achievement or victory…and her coworkers know that she can be counted
on because of her dedication, loyalty and availability. People are drawn to Nadine because
she makes them feel that she is truly ‘engaged’ when she is speaking with them. Nadine
has an enthusiastic attitude about her life and her work that is contagious.”
Described by a district-level administrator as one of the district’s “greatest assets”, we are
pleased to honor Nadine Bailey, the Kansas School Counselor Association’s Counselor of
the Year, as a finalist for Kansas Counselor of the Year.
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| KCA Spring Convention: Awards Brunch 2008 From Gold to Platinum...KCA has fifty years of success and is moving forward. The professional counselors in the state of Kansas stand at the podium as gold medalists, the best. Our academic preparation is strong. Our expanding. Our professional organization is supportive and open to change and growth. Our leadership is prepared for and excited by the prospect of future developments and needs. As counselors throughout the state of Kansas, we are energized by the challenge of moving forward into the coming years. It is in acknowledgement of this quality in counseling that we honored a few of our own at the 2008 Spring convention. They represent all of us and the dedication we demonstrate daily in our lives and our careers. They are models for the profession and deserve recognition for the depth and innovation of their efforts. The 2007-08 Kansas Counselor of the Year was awarded at the KCA Brunch on Friday, March 7, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka. Five Finalists who had all previously been named Counselor of the Year in their respective regions or divisions were recognized. Nadine Bailey, Elementary School Counselor in the Osawatomie schools, is described as a pioneer in her district, as she created a PreK-2 Comprehensive Guidance Program for the district and character education activities and events for two elementary schools. Her Second-Step violence prevention program for grades K-2 has been praised by administrators, teachers and board members alike. “Nadine has an enthusiastic attitude about her life and her work that is contagious.” Kansas School Counseling Association chose Nadine as their Counselor of the Year and nominee for KCA Counselor of the Year. Debra Carlson, K-8 School Counselor for Erie USD 101, began the first comprehensive guidance program in the district and integrates valuable lessons into the curriculum while maintaining many varied roles in school and community. Debra places the needs of her students first, developing an “unprecedented” rapport with all students. She coordinates fourteen committees within the district, ranging from the Reading Committee to Testing Coordination. Debra was nominated by the South East Region. Gene Hartman, High School Counselor from Abilene, teaches programs on self-awareness and resistance such as Youth Engaged in Service, True Colors and School to Careers in addition to accomplishing the daily activities of the counseling office. Those activities involve not only Abilene High School but also the alternative campus and Tallgrass tech prep. He has an “innate ability to convey genuine concern, be stern without being threatening, and is willing to share his life experiences with students to give them a feeling of not being alone in their endeavors.” North Central Region nominated Gene. Sylvia Schmidt, Wichita Elementary School Counselor, has mentored other counselors through the years, facilitated in-servicing to school counselors, created counseling materials for children of displaced workers, designed a career guidance unit, and also co-facilitated parent workshops. Two innovative programs started by Sylvia are “Canines with Counselors”, utilizing therapy dogs in school and crisis counseling settings, and “Charmed with Change”, a character trait reward program. She has new ideas and a passion to effect lives and be a positive change agent each day.” Sylvia represents the South Central Region. KCA Counselor of the Year Congratulations to Jeri McBeth! Jeri McBeth, High School Counselor at Topeka High School, has broad range of work experiences in the area of counseling, teaching, mentoring and collaboration. She created SWIRL (Students With Inter-Racial Lineage) who meet on a regular basis to discuss pertinent topics and do community service. The grant-writing she does has provided transit tickets for high-need students and supplies them and their teachers as well as funding for character education programs. The Bully-Target survey she developed is used throughout the Topeka school district. She has been active in KCA as co-chairman for the 2007 convention and chairman for the 2008 convention. Jeri continues her professional growth by seeking and being awarded national certification as both a counselor and a clinical mental health counselor. Still, it is her special “collective package of daily student interactions, the compassion for those she touches, and the application of her extensive knowledge of the human condition that makes her special.” Jeri was nominated by North East Region and then selected by the nine- member Awards Committee as KCA Counselor of the Year 2007-08. Two additional counselors were recognized for their outstanding service to the profession. They are a reflection of the history of excellence in our organization. Hall of Fame Jim Rodman, Director of School Improvement Services at Southeast Kansas Education Service Center Greenbush, has done as much as anyone in our state to positively impact the lives of Kansas school children and their families and to expand and strengthen the counseling profession and the services provided to counseling clientele in Kansas. He has done this by exploring counseling needs and responding to them with well-structured, research-based programs that he shares. More than 3000 professionals, including social workers, nurses, classroom teachers, counselors and school administrators throughout the United States have been trained by Jim in the best practices for developing and implementing crisis policies in schools and communities. He has served as KCA president and president of three regions, KSCA president, and KACES president as well as being a member of ACA and ASCA. His service on the KSDE Guidance and Communication Council continues to be a great benefit to the profession. Jim is described by colleagues as dedicated, generous and possessing a passion for the profession. It is an honor to acknowledge the accomplishments of Jim Rodman with induction into the KCA Hall of Fame. Distinguished Service Rosanne Haberman, Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling for Topeka Public Schools, has served on the KCA board for six years, the first two as membership chair and then in leadership positions as president-elect in 2005-06 and president in 2006-07. During the time of change in officers’ duties she willingly participated in planning four years of conventions between 2005 and 2008. A highlight of the 2008 convention was the video of 50 years of history of KCA that Rosanne prepared and presented at the President’s Reception. To prepare the video she tracked down all but three of the organization’s past presidents and included interviews, making the presentation very personal. The Golden Gems program instituted during her presidency continues to honor KCA members who have served KCA in years past. Rosanne’s colleagues in KCA say she is positive, professional, conscientious, and caring. Rosanne is a blessing to KCA as an organization and to each of us personally as well. The past presidents are proud to have selected Rosanne Haberman for the KCA Distinguished Service Award. |
| Finalists Listed Below |
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| Want to nominate someone for the next Counselor of the Year? Click Here! |
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