Rhonda Ramirez Named 2020 Texas School Counselor of the Year

by the Lone Star State School Counselor Association

Rhonda Ramirez, a Lead School Counselor at Naaman Forest High School, in Garland, Texas, has been named the 2020 Texas School Counselor of the Year by the Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA).

She is the fourth person to receive the award from the association.  Rhonda, is a graduate of Baylor University has been a school counselor for 14 years and has been at Naaman Forest High School for eight years. The School Counselor of the Year award honors professionals who devote their careers to advocating for the nation’s students and addressing their academic and social/emotional development and college and career readiness needs.

Four finalists were selected for School Counselor of the Year based on their ability to create systemic change within the profession through significant leadership, collaboration, and advocacy. All four finalists achieved increased student success through their comprehensive school counseling programs.

The top four finalists are:

Pamela Andrews-Keller ISD

Oliva Tarkington-Garland ISD 

Ana Travis-Frisco ISD

Cara Yeates-Frisco ISD

Ramirez and the top four finalists will be honored at the Annual Lone Star State School Counselor Association Conference in Dallas, Texas, November 8-10, 2020. 

The Lone Star State School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year program honors the best of the best in Texas -- school counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle or high school level.  This year’s school counselor of the year candidates completed an extensive application process and were judged by a panel of counseling professionals on multiple criteria, including school counseling innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership skills, and contributions to student achievement.