You may remember that in the fall, Mrs. Hahn was named the Elementary School Counselor of the year for the Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA). Along with a plaque and a $200 stipend, this award allowed her to be entered as a candidate for the 2023 overall Nebraska School counselor of the year. At a celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska, last night, Thursday, February 23, 2023, Mrs. Hahn was selected as the 2023 Nebraska School Counselor of The Year.
To say we are elated for Mrs. Hahn is a complete understatement.
Dr. Rhodes describes Mrs. Hahn as an invaluable North Platte Public Schools team member. "Mrs. Hahn exemplifies character with a student-centered approach to educational principals." Rhodes added, "Mrs. Hahn shares a caring attitude with everyone she interacts with. She is never afraid to step in and assist when others are in need."
Mrs. Hahn will serve as the Nebraska School Counselor of the Year until February 2024. Additionally, she will visit Washington, D.C., next February to represent Nebraska nationally.
Please help us as we congratulate Mrs. Hahn.
Link To: Press Release From the Nebraska School Counselor Association.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
LINCOLN, NE – Feb. 23, 2023 – Kara Hahn, School Counselor at Jefferson
Elementary School in North Platte, NE, was named the 2023 Nebraska School
Counselor of the Year at a formal dinner at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln, NE on
Thursday, February 23, 2023. The dinner recognized six outstanding school
counselors from across the state in a room filled with family, friends, and
dignitaries. Ms. Hahn was introduced to attendees prior to the meal as a Finalist
for the 2023 School Counselor of the Year by Mr. Jeff Ellsworth, Principal of
Jefferson Elementary School. After dinner Ms. Hahn was announced as the 2023
School Counselor of the Year and received her award from Bethany Seehusen,
Chair of the Nebraska School Counselor Association Governing Board and Doug
Hauserman, Executive Director of the Nebraska School Counselor Association.
Ms. Hahn then delivered a brief acceptance speech.
Other honorees included finalist, Julie McNamara of Daniel J. Gross Catholic High
School in Omaha; finalist Julie Williams of Millard Central Middle School in the
Millard Public Schools; semi-finalist Ashley De Los Santos of Gering High School;
semi-finalist Stefanie Lorenzen of Russell Middle School in the Millard Public
Schools; semi-finalist Megan West of Holy Name School in Omaha.
All six honorees have successfully implemented a comprehensive school
counseling program based off the American School Counselor Association
National Model. Ms. Hahn’s application stood out for her use of data to identify
students who were at risk and implementing small groups addressing topics that
included: appropriate student behavior, a positive mindset, resiliency and
emotional regulation to help these students succeed both academically and
behaviorally at school. Kara’s success during the 2021-2022 school led her to
continue the same interventions this school year.
As the 2023 Nebraska School Counselor of the Year, Ms. Hahn will represent
Nebraska in the American School Counselor Association’s National School
Counselor of the Year contest. As such she will be invited to attend the American
School Counselor Association’s School Counselor of the Year Gala in February of
2024. The Nebraska School Counselor Association presented Ms. Hahn with a
$500 stipend at the dinner to cover expenses not covered by the American School
Counselor Association for her to attend the School Counselor of the Year Gala in
Washington, DC
About the Role of a School Counselor
School Counselors work with all students eK-12 to support them in three
areas: academic achievement, career planning and readiness, and social
emotional development. School counselors do this by implementing a
comprehensive school counselor program that is data driven, includes a program
goal based on the needs of the school, includes a closing the achievement gap
plan, and includes input from stake holders from the community, school staff,
school-wide data, and students. School counselors deliver their services through
classroom instruction, small group intervention and
individual advisement/counseling.
About the Nebraska School Counselor Association
The Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) that
promotes student success by expanding the image and influence of school
counselors through leadership, advocacy, collaboration and systemic change.
NSCA provides professional development for Nebraska School Counselors to aid
them in guiding their students toward academic achievement, career planning
and social/emotional development to help today’s student become tomorrow’s
productive contributing members of society. The Nebraska School Counselor
Association is a division of the American School Counselor Association.
