The Lone Star State School Counseling Association recognized eight Socorro Independent School District counseling teams with the 2023-2024 Lone Star Awards and an SISD elementary school counselor was chosen as a state finalist for the Lone Star School Counselor of the Year.
The prominent Lone Star awards honor counseling programs for their dedication to students and excellent work in providing the best comprehensive school counseling at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
“We are so proud of each of our Lone Star winners and our Texas School Counselor of the Year Finalist,” said Tammi Mackeben, SISD director of school counseling. “Their dedication and commitment to the students and the community of Socorro ISD is incredible. Through data-driven programs, passion, and empathy, each school counselor makes a true difference each and every day.”
Zulema Zuniga from Sgt. Roberto Ituarte Elementary School, a counselor for six years, was named a 2023 Lone Star School Counselor of the Year finalist. She was one of four finalists across the state.
“Being named a Texas school counselor finalist leaves me incredibly humbled, and I'm grateful for the recognition of the everyday work and dedication I pour into my role,” Zuniga said. “It's a true blessing to have the opportunity and support to implement a comprehensive school counseling program on our campus that genuinely impacts the lives of kids and families. This acknowledgment only strengthens my commitment to making a positive difference in education.”
The eight SISD schools to earn the Lone Star award were among 11 campuses chosen in the state.
The LSSSCA progressive awards system includes bronze, silver and gold levels. Each level is met with increased levels of rigor designed to elevate school counselor programs to national recognition through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) awards.
Schools receiving the LSSSCA gold, silver or bronze award demonstrated outstanding comprehensive counseling programs that were data-driven, focused on goal completion and aligned to the ASCA National Model.
SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School and Montwood High School won the gold award. Myrtle Cooper Elementary School and Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School won the silver award. H.D. Hilley Elementary School, Sun Ridge Middle School, Pebble Hills High School, and Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy won the bronze award.
Sun Ridge Middle School counselor Yvonne Alvarez has been a school counselor for eight years.
"We were able to receive the LSSSCA Bronze Award because we worked as a collaborative school counseling team, and we had a strong support system that allowed us to build a comprehensive school counseling program for our students,” Alvarez said. “We are blessed to work with and on behalf of our students every day. We are humbled to receive this honor."
In her 30-plus years as an educator, Belinda Calderon, a counselor at Myrtle Cooper Elementary School, said she consciously chose to dedicate herself to school counseling years ago. She has been a counselor for 15 years.
“It has been a privilege to provide services for our SISD students,” Calderon said. “I live by the saying, ‘Treat students as if they were your own,’ which guides my every interaction and has allowed me to build a rapport of mutual respect and understanding with students. Receiving the Lone Star Award solidified that the program I have is in fact effective, and for that, I am honored."
The winners were recognized at the Lone Star State School Counselor Association Conference in Frisco, Texas, in October.