2 minute read
Brandy Peters named 2023-2024 JCPS Counselor of the Year
from March 2024
by Johnston Now
Submitted by Johnston County Public Schools
SMITHFIELD — Brandy Peters, a school counselor at South Johnston High School, was named 20232024 Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) School Counselor of the Year recently.
Peters has been a school counselor for 21 years, and has spent her entire career with JCPS, and South Johnston. She received the award at the JCPS School Counselor Celebration on Friday, February 9.
In honor of National School Counseling Week, the district’s Student Services Department hosted the celebration to bring the approximately 100 counselors together for breakfast, conversation, and to hear guest speaker Deirdra Williams Hawkes, Director of Programs and Advocacy for the American School Counselor Association.
“I can’t think of a better way to conclude National School Counseling Week by being amongst school counselors,” said Hawkes. “It shows how appreciative we are for what they do each and every day.”
“It is important to have celebrations like this to not only honor the professionals who are supporting our students everyday, but also to raise awareness about the importance of the work being done through school counseling programs,” Dr. Amanda Allen, Executive Director of Student Services said. “Bringing counselors together for professional development and collaboration helps us to improve all of our school counseling programs throughout JCPS!”
JCPS takes pleasure in recognizing staff for the amazing work they perform, and the inaugural counselor recognition event was a great success.
“This is the first event that brought all JCPS school counselors together to celebrate the role of professional school counselors,” said Kim Lewter, JCPS Lead School Counselor and event coordinator. “20232024 SCOY Nominations were made by principals, assistant principals, EC teachers, Parent Engagement Assistants, ESL teachers and school nurses.”
The nominees were: Lauren Brown (Riverwood Elementary), Sekesha Chestnut (Archer Lodge Middle), Sara Davis (Powhatan Elementary), Monica Handy (Clayton High), Janet Lee (Selma Middle), Ashley Morton (Corinth Holders Elementary), Brandy Peters (South Johnston High), Donna Price (Meadow School) and Kim Sigmon (West Clayton Elementary).
