Mayor O’Geary sits at center to sign the proclamation while surrounded by student ambassadors and representatives of the school’s staff.
Henderson Mayor Pete O’Geary came to Eaton-Johnson Middle School on February 3, to sign a proclamation to recognize this week as National School Counseling Week.
Those shown with him include, seated from left, student ambassadors Devon Willard and Tre’Quan Johnson. Standing from left are, Sharon Turner, the school’s testing coordinator and athletic director; Dr. Priscilla Chavis-Lockley, school counselor; Vickie Heath, cafeteria manager; Davette McClary, a teacher assistant; Ivy Marks, school counselor; Kendra Durham, a student at Eaton-Johnson; Principal Willie Fuller; student ambassadors Joy Peace, Elijah Hawkins and McKenzie Williams; Jeffery Brooks, a custodian; and Deputy Lamar Hargrove, school resource officer.
The proclamation reads in part, “School counselors are employed in public and private schools to help students reach their full potential. School counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development.” The proclamation stresses that school counselors also work closely the parents and teachers and that a comprehensive developmental school counseling program is considered an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school.
Each of the 10 elementary schools in Vance County Schools has a school counselor. Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools have two school counselors each and Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools have four school counselors each. The Early College High School and Western Vance High School each have one school counselor.
School counselors have a vital role in the success of each school day as they assist students with academic and social issues and serve as a link to essential communication between teachers and parents of students.