2011 National Awards for ABC Awards Program
National Consortium of State Guidance Leadership

October 2011

The National Guidance Consortium has been honoring elementary and middle schools for 15 years for their comprehensive and effective guidance and counseling programs.   The program is competitive nationally and selections are made on very rigorous standards set by the Consortium of State Guidance Leaders.   This year two schools were selected as our national awardees, and there were two runner up and three honorable mentions awards. The following are descriptions and listing of awardees:

Elementary Career Development Program
Denton Independent School District School

Then Denton District Elementary school program was highly rated across all the program standards and program elements of having a guidance curriculum, individual planning and a broad set of responsive services and outstanding support for their program.   Most impressive was how guidance is integrated into the whole educational experience.   The program deals with the personal and social skills as well as life skills employability and career and life planning. The core of guidance experience is delivered with their guidance career awareness and exploration and career concentration and lifelong learning.  Parents and faculty seem to all be involved some way in all aspects of their program including the assessment of the guidance program.  Students are afforded with a wide variety of opportunities to study about their uniqueness, the labor market, life planning that focus on how education contributes to their reaching their potential and plans.

Madison Middle School, Seattle, Washington

The Madison Middle School was also chosen as a national winner.   They were rated highly because of their delivery of guidance skills and experiences through a curriculum, career role models and speaker’s bureau.  In addition parents are key to the program success as well as teachers as full program partners.  Unique also are the requirements and opportunities for ALL students to experience deeply at least nine careers of interest.   Their 842 students, grades 6, 7 and all have set their goals and have a beginning life plan. 

Mrs. Lauren Divina
Counselor
Madison Middle School
3429 45^th Ave, S.W.
Seattle, WA  98116
IDIVINA@SEATTLESCHOOLS.ORG
Phone  206 252 9121  Fax  206 252 9201
 

NATIONAL RUNNER UP PROGRAMS

Zan Tracy Pender
Counselor
Lemira Elementary School
952  Fulton St.
Sumter, SC  29153
delicia@sumter17.k12.sc.us
Phone   803 775 0658  Fax  803 778 2730

Ms. Maria Herrera
Counselor
Torch Middle School
751 N. Vineland Ave
La Puente, CA  91746
Phone   626 931 2800  Fax   626 931 2707

National Honorable Mention

Ms. Kathryn Hilgenkamp
Career Development Facilitator
North Myrtle Beach Middle School
11240 Highway #90
Little River, SC   29566
Khilgenkamp@hurrycountyschools.net
Phone  843 399 6136   Fax   843 399 2233

Sheriet Brown
Guidance Director
Southside Middle School
200 east Howe Springs Rd
Florence. SC   29505  
SBROWN@FSD1.ORG
Phone 843 664 8467   Fax  843 673 5766

The National Guidance Consortium has been honoring elementary and middle schools for 10 years for their comprehensive and effective guidance and counseling programs. The program is competitive nationally and selections are made on very rigorous standards set by the Consortium of State Guidance Leaders. This year two schools were selected and the following is a summary of the schools program.

The Greenville Middle Academy was highly rated across all of the National Consortiums standards and program elements of Guidance Curriculum, Individual Planning, Responsive Services and System Support. Most impressive was how guidance is integrated into the whole educational experience. The program deals with the personal and social skills as well as life skills, employability and career and life planning. The core of the guidance experience is found within their guidance career awareness and exploration curriculum including a program called GoalMine.  The community and faculty seem to all be involved in some way in the planning, delivery and assessment of impact and effects of the program. Students are afforded job shadowing, a variety of career assessments, are involved in Character Education and end up with an educational and life plan before graduation,

Marsha W. Leamon
Career Specialist
Greenville Middle Academy
Greenville SC
P/ (864) 355-5620
F/ (864) 355-5682
mleamon@greenville.k12.sc.us

Johnson Elementary School was selected for Honorable mention given their creative and complete attempts to deliver a complete guidance experience for ALL students.  They work with all their stakeholders to determine needs, integrate their guidance goals and expected outcomes with the academic program of the school.  They appear to be very complete in assuring that ALL students are exposed to career planning, life skills, decision making, college and work seeking and preparation, respect for others. They are accountable, measure what they do, and see guidance as a program of counseling and instruction. For more information contact: