National School Counseling Week

Posted Date: 02/02/2024

School counselors make unique contribution

to schools and students

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counseling Association, will

be recognized February 5-9, 2024, to honor the unique contributions of school counselors in the school sys-
tem, according to Cassady Hickingbottom, BPSB Supervisor. The theme for the week is: School Counseling:

Standards-Based, Student-Focused.
“School counselors have a unique contribution to make to the school environment,” Hickingbottom
said. “They have a tremendous impact on helping students achieve success and plan for their futures.”
There are 15 school counselors assigned to Beauregard Parish schools including, Melissa Cobb, BAP,
Karan Brown, CE, Shamika Spikes-Hooker and Michelle Miller, DHS, Haley Raggio and Holli Jones,
DJHS, Lauren Jenkins, EBE, Brooke Reeves, EBHS, Marjorie Wooley, KRH, Patty Sibley and Candace
Jackson, MHS, Cyndee Weaver, PWE, Vivien Breaux, SHS, Tara DeVeau, SBE, Casey Bollich, SBUE, and
Annie Grogan-Hutton and Jessica Hungerford, SBHS.
Counselors in the school system work with student scheduling, coordinate testing and assessments,
provide academic direction in planning for students’ promotion in school, and help guide students through
decision-making and life situations. School counselors help students develop problem-solving skills and
learn to cope with difficulties.
“Our school counselors work in collaboration with teachers, administrators, and parents to maximize

student success, emotionally, socially, and academically,” Hickingbottom stated. “They are certified, experi-
enced educators who have a master’s degree in school counseling, combining training and experience that

makes them an integral part of the total education program in our parish.”
In addition to school guidance counselors, Beauregard Parish schools currently employ SEB (Social,

Emotional, and Behavior) counselors through an ESSER grant to focus on the increase of social and emo-
tional needs of students who are dealing with the disruptions in their lives due to COVID and hurricane re-
covery in our area.

They include: Leslie Hillin - DJHS, KRH, PWE, Crystal Ryan – EB schools, Jaime Hanson - DHS,
BAP, CE, and Debra Brockman - SHS and MHS.
“The role of the school counselor is multi-faceted as they focus on students’ academic needs as well
as their personal, social, and emotional well-being in the school setting,” concluded Hickingbottom. “During
National School Counseling Week, we want to recognize and thank our BPSB school guidance counselors
and SEB counselors for all that they do to help our students thrive.”