3 minute read
Dr. Boone Benton of Brookwood High: Named 1st Runner Up for School Counselor of the Year
By Traci Sanders
Dr. Boone Benton from Brookwood High School was recently named 1st Runner Up for Counselor of the Year by Dr. Chon Hester, the current president of the Georgia School Counselor Association.
Benton is celebrating fifteen years as a high school counselor in Gwinnett County – five years at Berkmar High School and ten years at Brookwood High School. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia (UGA) and a couple of master’s degrees – one in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, and another in Community Counseling from Georgia State University. “I’m a proud Blue Hose from Presbyterian College,” Benton remarked.
When asked what inspired him to enter into the school counseling field, Benton replied, “My wife Coralie is amazing, and I’m a better man for listening to her when she suggested I investigate school counseling when we moved to Georgia. I was seeking a counseling position with more structure during the day. My previous work had been with group homes where I was on call 24/7, which meant I was away from my own young children quite often. School counseling has been a discovered passion. I love working with high school students.”
For Dr. Benton the best part of his job is encouraging and empowering a student to achieve a goal beyond what he or she thought was attainable, which could be as immediate as improving in a rigorous class, or as long-term as getting into a college they didn’t think was possible. “I love sharing those ‘Aha!’ moments when a student walks away feeling more confident and motivated,” Benton said. Another “best part” is working with Brookwood’s Peer Leadership program inside the school as well as throughout the county. “Gwinnett County is nationally known for their leadership programs at all educational levels,” Benton explained.
Of course, no job is perfect. Benton stated that the worst part of his job is when he has to tell a student that they’re not able to graduate on time. “This is sometimes a shock,” he said, “and being the bearer of this sad news, for students and parents, can be challenging, especially when the parent wants to blame the school and not hold their child responsible.”
He added, “I wish parents and students understood that school counseling is multifaceted. We do many things. The American School Counselor Association outlines three aspects of a counselor’s work: Social/Emotional, Academic, and Career. School counselors cover all these facets with students in a variety of excellent ways. Therefore, if we don’t respond to you right away, be patient. Every school counselor I know loves working with their students to motivate, encourage, and challenge them. School counselors need parents and students to partner together with their school to help them succeed. School counselors are an important person in your child’s ‘village,’ but parents have the most power and influence. Know your child’s grades and what they choose to do in their free time.” In the last several years, Dr. Benton has seen phones and video games steal away more academic success. “Parents and students collaborating on electronic usage could help prevent these disappointments,” he said.
Benton has been married for twenty-two years and has three children. His oldest daughter, Taylor, hopes to major in Animal Science at UGA. His son, a senior at Brookwood High School, is headed to Princeton in the fall. And his youngest, age 10, loves all things horses, anime, and video games, but is not fond of math. Benton’s family has been an integral part of his success, and they shared in this celebration. “My family was very excited for me,” he said “We went to UGA’s convention center for the reception and were treated well. It was a memorable day.”
In closing, Benton requested a shout out for his twin sister, Christy Kramer, who has been in education much longer than he and teaches art at Austin Elementary in Dekalb County. “We’ve both had a good year,” Benton shared. “She received Regional Employee of the year (Region 1), and was just announced the District winner!”
More information at https://www.gcpsk12.org/BrookwoodHS.
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