At the upcoming Indiana School Counselor Association (ISCA) conference on Friday, November 3, 2017 GMS School Counselor Jan Desmarais-Morse will receive the award for the 2017 Indiana Exemplary Middle School Counselor of the Year (SCOY).

Jan was nominated by a fellow counselor from Oak Hill Elementary School in Lowell, Indiana.  She had to complete an extensive application that included four essay questions regarding school counseling advocacy, use of data, professional development, and collaboration with key stakeholders. She also had to provide three program goals from last year and provide data to show how she addressed those goals with students. In addition, Jan provided an updated resume, along with three letters of recommendation from a direct supervisor, a colleague, and a parent or student (in Jan’s case, the letter was provided by a former student).

Along with the award for exemplary middle school counselor, the ISCA also selects an exemplary high school and exemplary elementary school counselor.  In April/May 2018, the selection committee will choose one of the three to represent the state organization at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) counselor of the year celebration in Washington, D.C. to be held in late 2018/early 2019 along with other state representatives from across the United States.  Since 2014, Michelle Obama has supported the efforts of school counselors and has been working in conjunction with ASCA to promote the role of school counselors in college and career readiness and has met with the state SCOY award winners. Her support continues to shine a light on school counselors’ work with students.

Ms. Desmarais-Morse will receive her award on Friday, November 3, 2017, during the Awards Luncheon  (12:35pm – 2:05 pm) at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis.

From the ISCA:

Your hard work, dedication, and support of professional school counselors in Indiana will be acknowledged at the 2017 Fall ISCA Conference.

Students in our Hoosier State have benefited from your endeavors, and this is ISCA’s way of saying, “Thank you.” Thank you for being an Exemplary Middle School Counselor who demonstrates that school counselors truly are superheroes for their students!

Congratulations Jan Desmarais-Morse! Exemplary Middle School School Counselor of the Year for 2017.