U-46 school counselors to be honored with Accent on Achievement
The Elgin Area School District U-46 Board of Education on Monday will recognize the essential role of school counselors during a year in which they were challenged to find new ways to support students amidst a global pandemic and remote learning.
National School Counseling Week, held this year from Feb. 1-5, is organized by the American School Counselor Association to highlight the impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve academic success and prepare for college and careers.
About four dozen counselors work in U-46 middle and high schools. They have helped students navigate a year that has involved remote learning, hybrid schedules, and new technological demands; directly reached out to students in need of additional resources; organized virtual college and career panels; and continued to help students develop academic, social, and emotional skills - all amid a global pandemic.
"Our school counselors are a vital part of our teams in supporting our students' development and success," said U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders. "I'm especially grateful for their dedication, skills and innovation during the past year."
The "Accent on Achievement" certificate will be presented at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 in room 140 of the Educational Services Center.
Alexa Charsha, the lead counselor for U-46, will accept the certificate on behalf of school counselors. Members of the public can attend in person or watch via Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/89240302929.
The meeting will also be live streamed on the school district's YouTube channel.