This week – February 3-7 – we will honor our talented school counselors. We hope you will enjoy reading these profiles as much as we enjoyed creating them. Remember, there are hundreds of other counselors who weren’t highlighted here, so make sure to celebrate the counselors that you know on social media using #SDPThankACounselor!
National School Counseling Week 2025
Lori Blanco | AMY Northwest
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Blanco’s goal is to be available and present with her students at all times to help them be the best version of themselves. Being genuine and loving is how she engages with her students and shows them that she truly cares about their lives. She believes students thrive when they know that they have support and someone in their corner — so she helps them thrive by always being their cheerleader.
Adon Martin | Thomas Edison High School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Using his past experiences as a teacher, he not only conducts academic audits with students, he also engage them in tutoring sessions, complete mini workshops for major projects and presentations and works closely with their teachers to ensure they are turning in quality work. Mr. Martin has conducted career interest surveys and when they receive word about potential partnerships, he is able to provide individualized connections with students and agencies based on their identified needs. In a school like Edison, behavioral and mental health crisis management is of the utmost importance and a part of what makes a student thrive is when they feel they are in good emotional health. Mr. Martin collaborates with Edison’s mental health team to conduct risk assessments and connect students and families with behavioral health support, providing case manager level support to ensure students make it from the referral process to receiving services. None of these achievements would be possible without the intentional and close collaboration with the stakeholders in the Edison building who also work hard to ensure students thrive.
Erin Kelly | Excel Academy Central
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Kelly helps students thrive by showing them the potential they have beyond high school. She connects them with career and post-secondary options that open up new possibilities and highlight the skills they already have learned and might want to turn into a career. Beyond their post-secondary plan, she finds it important to mentor students on how to be active, thoughtful members of their communities. It’s all about helping them see the bigger picture and giving them the tools they need to step into their future with confidence. She wants them to feel ready—not just for the next phase of their education and career, but for making a positive impact in the world around them.
Erika Dajevskis | Stephen Girard Elementary School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Dajevskis believes that students can thrive when they feel connected to and included in healthy communities that offer safety, support, expectations of success, and an ongoing commitment to the liberation and empowerment of all, starting with most marginalized students.
She believes all students are born to thrive. Counselors help them do what they are naturally meant to do by removing barriers, dismantling oppressive systems, and helping them explore and unleash their inner strengths, resilience, and brilliance.
Meredith Seltzer | Emlen Elementary School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Seltzer is deeply committed to encouraging students to thrive by fostering a sense of belonging and community in school, ensuring that students feel valued and supported by both adults and peers. She strives to recognize and celebrate her students’ successes, no matter how small, as she knows these moments can build their confidence and motivation. Passionate about social-emotional learning (SEL), Ms. Seltzer believes in equipping students with essential life skills to protect their mental wellness and help them thrive both in and beyond the classroom.
Jenna Brower | Girard Academic Music Program
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Brower helps her students thrive by encouraging them to reach all levels. She makes sure her students know that they are not defined by obstacles and we celebrate areas of improvement or growth no matter how small. She’s am proud to work in a school that values student well-being, allowing me to focus on supporting student’s social-emotional learning and mental health. Her hope is that the students at GAMP feel safe, valued, and that there is always someone on their side.
Christina Klos | Jay Cooke Elementary
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Klos helps her students thrive by celebrating their skills and knowledge, and supporting students to use their skills and knowledge as tools to reach their goals.
Jessica Watson | General Philip Kearny Elementary School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Watson helps her students thrive by teaching them about their strengths and how those strengths should be used especially when times are difficult. She provides encouragement, love, consistency, and warmth to my students and they know that she is always rooting for their success. Ms. Watson consistently reminds them that hard work and effort will make their dreams very achievable. She points out even their small successes as much as possible to keep them motivated and on task. Ms. Waston encourages her students to advocate for themselves especially before moving on to high school. She is always available to assist with her students by talking with them about anything that is distracting them from learning at their full potential, making referrals for outside agency assistance, or by assisting with peer conflict and mediation. Ms. Watson loves being a School Counselor! To her, it is the most rewarding career as she gets to be a part in helping shape the minds of our future.
Gabrielle Piccolo | John M. Patterson Elementary School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Piccolo helps her students thrive by creating a sense of belonging in their school community. By spending time and getting to know them, she is able to learn their needs individually and as groups. It is important to her to know the students in our school on more than a surface level. Together Ms. Piccolo and her students set long term and short term goals to support their social/emotional, academic, and attendance goals. She aims to create a nurturing and safe environment where students can reach their full potential. I prioritize helping families connect to resources so students can thrive when their basic needs are met!
Melissa Schafer | Castor Gardens Middle School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Schafer thinks that the best way she can help her students thrive is by building a personal relationship with them and making sure that they know each day is an opportunity to be their best self. She focuses a lot on helping her students set goals and then working to build the necessary skills to achieve them, whether that is academically, socially or emotionally. When a student comes to her with a success story, no matter how big or small, they celebrate it!
Amanda Rice | Samuel Gompers School
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Rice helps students thrive by creating a safe space for them to grow. She thinks it is important for students to know their strengths so they can use them to overcome challenges and succeed in school and life. She enjoys working with students individually, in groups, and collaborating with stakeholders to foster student academic, social/emotional, and career growth.
Aury Rodriguez | Honorable Luis Muñoz-Marín Elementary
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Rodriguez is very passionate about her role as a Counselor and honored to continue supporting her community. She’s worked as a Counselor for 12 years and has used her 20 years of experience working with North Philadelphia families and her education within the field to provide great service to her students and the greater school community. Particularly, as a bilingual counselor, Ms. Rodriguez is able to compassionately communicate with my students and create a trusting environment that allows for them to openly express their feelings leading to positive outcomes. She’s been able to connect with parents and guardians, helping them better understand their children’s needs which strengthens the support system both at school and at home, ensuring a positive impact that extends beyond the school halls. All in all, Ms. Rodriguez wholeheartedly care for all of my students and everyday, she strives to continue building a positive rapport and giving them the support they need to build a strong sense of self, recognize their potential, learn to set goals, and use effective strategies to achieve success.
Lisa Imperiale | Crossroads Accelerated Academy
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Imperiale’s philosophy has always been to empower students to realize their potential, practice empathy, respect and acknowledging each child holistically.
Debra Simonds | Kensington Creative and Performing Arts
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Ms. Simonds believes the key to helping her students be successful is having healthy relationships. She thinks her students feel comfortable coming to her to discuss their concerns.
Jessica Henson | John Marshall Elementary
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Like so many of us, it warms Ms. Henson’s heart to see her students thrive. While it may seem insignificant, she full-heartedly believes that recognition and acknowledgement can have monumental impacts on a student and their desire for continued growth. One of her favorite things to do is to build rapport with as many students as she can, even those who are not in my grade band. It is essential for them to know that they are respected and loved, long before potential issues or concerns arise. Additionally, Ms.Henson strives daily to uplift her students and build their confidence by acknowledging successes and positivity that they display, even on a small scale, so that they know they are capable and appreciated.
Melvin Morris | Hamilton Disston
How does this School Counselor help their students thrive?
Mr. Morris believes in creating a safe and an inclusive environment where all scholars feel valued. He supports students with building healthy relationships and knowing their self worth to reach their full potential.