COMMUNITY Hanover Schools’ Edwards named Counselor of the Year

Community Report

Shannon Edwards, the career counselor at Atlee High School (AHS), has received two recognitions celebrating her as the Counselor of the Year.

The Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) named Edwards the 2023 Secondary School Counselor of the Year. Each year, the Virginia School Counselor Association recognizes an elementary school counselor and a secondary school counselor for their outstanding and exemplary work. Separately, the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) named Edwards as one of its 2023 Counselors of the Year, recognizing her for her impact in the admissions process, advocacy for students and colleagues, innovation in the industry, and more.

“I am deeply honored to have received these recognitions. I feel that it is a reflection of the important and valuable work that our entire school counseling team does each and every day,” said Edwards. “We work hand-in-hand together to support one another and provide opportunities for our students that are meaningful and unique to their specific career goals and interests.”

Sheriff’s Office will host Youth Citizen’s Police Academy

Counselor of the Year, an award that recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who demonstrate a commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success while exhibiting innovation in career exploration and development, and advocate for career and technical education as a viable option for all students.

Edwards, a Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University alumna, has served Hanover County students since 2017. She came to education after a career as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She felt drawn to a job that allowed her to help others, particularly students.

work that we do and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly and thoroughly enjoy.”

She added: “I feel very fortunate to work with such a smart, creative and hardworking career counseling team. Our team works together on a daily basis to develop and provide unique and interesting career opportunities and programs for our students. It is without a doubt a ‘team’ effort and these awards are a reflection of that.”

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will once again be hosting the Youth Citizen’s Police Academy. As was the case last year, due to overwhelming interest, the Sheriff’s Office will hold two sessions of the Youth Citizen’s Police Academy. The first session will take place from June 26 – June 30. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 26. The second session will take place from July 31 – Aug. 4. The deadline to apply for this session is Friday, June 30.

Karla Allen, HCPS Coordinator of Counseling Services, said she couldn’t think of a better recipient.

“Shannon is the epitome of what it means to be a counselor who advocates, initiates ideas and programs, and leads her career team to the next level,” Allen said. “Under Shannon’s leadership, the career team has implemented new and creative strategies and programs such as career cafes, an online virtual career center for students to utilize during the COVID-19 school closures, a Hanover Career Counseling YouTube channel with thousands of views, and business partnerships that have led to career fairs, career expos, and scholarship and job opportunities for our students.”

Edwards has also been recognized nationally for her work. She received the 2020 Association for Career and Technical Education Counseling and Career Development School

“It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to work with our students and their families every day. I love to help students explore various career fields and determine potential fits for themselves based on their interests, personality traits, skills and preferences. Our students are truly amazing and have very interesting ideas and goals for themselves,” she said. “It is exciting to help them explore career pathways, work-based learning opportunities, and additional career exploration options. I am proud of the

Edwards received the PCACAC award out of all public school counselors in Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland. Virginia, and West Virginia. For the VSCA recognition, Edwards continues Hanover’s success in the association’s awards. A Hanover counselor has won a VSCA award in four of the past five years.

Karen Cole, the school counseling director at Mechanicsville High School, received the Secondary School Counselor of the Year award in 2019. Karla Allen won the 2020 Leadership Award from the VSCA and Josh Hurley, the former school counseling director at Patrick Henry High School, received the Secondary School Counselor of the Year in 2021.

—Submitted by Hanover County Public Schools

This academy will begin each day at 9 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. and is available to students who are rising 9th through 12th graders. There will be no cost to participants.

This academy is designed to give the youth of Hanover County a chance to see the day-to-day operations of their Sheriff’s Office and will allow participants to interact with the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. The academy will also offer the participants an inside look into a career in law enforcement. The training will consist of a variety of law enforcement topics which will give the youth a better understanding of how and why the members of the Sheriff’s Office do what they do. For more information, contact the deputy at your child’s school or Lt. Sean Smith at the Sheriff’s Office by email at sasmith@ hanovercounty.gov.

—Submitted by the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office

MECHANICSVILLE-ASHLAND LOCAL