By SAM THOMPSON – Web Staff
As Clarke Central High School counselor Toawondia Underwood took on her fourth year at Clarke Central High School, and her twelfth year in counseling, the Clarke County School District chose to honor her as the first ever high school faculty recipient of the Counselor of the Year award.
Clarke Central High School counselor and recent Counselor of the Year recipient aids senior Jackie Gordon in planning for her summer. Photo by Maria Velasquez.
All nominated by their peers, counselors from each CCSD school sent applications in for review by a non-partisan committee from the University of Georgia’s school counseling department. Submissions of each district’s winners have been sent to the Georgia School Counselors Association to compete at the state level.
“I applaud these individuals for being selected, as they have been integral members of our school communities by helping students achieve at high levels,” CCSD Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue said in a district interview.
Praised by her superiors and peers, Underwood takes in each day as a puzzle that is just itching to be solved. Alongside a revered staff at CCHS, Underwood strives for daily excellence to play an imperative role on such a staff.
“Any one of those counselors in that department could have won that award. You guys don’t know the extent (to which) they work, the hours they put in. They are all about the kids,” CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said.
Senior Kyara Mejia is exposed to the intricacies of the CCHS counseling office as she works as its intern during third block. Mejia feels that Underwood has been a positive role model in her education.
“She has shown me how to care for people by caring for me.Whenever I need help she can help me if she’s available or if my counselor is not available. Just in general, if I have any questions or I want to talk to her, she’s there,” Mejia said.
Underwood believes her strength is in her ability to build relationships. Spending the majority of time with her students through the day, she often works long hours in order to fulfill the needs of countless individuals and their families.
“I do know that there are so many other counselors that are deserving of it because they work just as hard. For me, it just confirms that there is still more work to be done, that this is a position that needs more personnel, more support, so we can continue to deliver the type of services that we do to the students,” Underwood said.
