Dr. Reneé Williams was recently named Counselor of the Year by Henry County Schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

Dr. Williams was serving as the seventh-grade counselor at Eagle’s Landing Middle School when nominated for this year’s award. She is currently in her 17th year as a school counselor, having worked 11 years in elementary schools and six years in middle schools. She recently assumed a counselor role at Woodland High.

“Middle school counselors assist and guide students through navigating their teenage years, dealing with social/emotional issues, while ensuring that the students are successful academically. Dr. Williams consistently provides all students with these supports with care and compassion, and she is someone that you always want on your school’s team,” said ELMS Principal Dr. Malik Douglas.

“While serving at ELMS, I had the unique opportunity to strengthen relationships with students and to offer support during one of the most difficult times our world has ever experienced. It was my students’ resilience and adaptability throughout the pandemic that motivated me to show up for them in every way possible,” said Dr. Williams. “To be recognized as the HCS Counselor of the Year is extremely humbling, as I believe the work that I have done is not out of the ordinary but what I have been purposed to do. I am also extremely grateful to be a part of the HCS’ team of professional school counselors who display the highest level of dedication to students every day in so many ways.”

Several more honors were presented during the School Counselor of the Year Awards and Recognitions Ceremony hosted February 7 by Shiloh Baptist Church.

Jeff Miller and Erin Bundrige of Woodland Middle School were honored as a Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (RAMP). Bundrige was also recognized as a Georgia School Counselor Association Emerging Leader and School Counselor of the Year semifinalist.

Michelle Wilkerson of Woodland Middle was named Georgia School Counselor Association Administrator of the Year.

Premlata Miller and Sarah Hinton of New Hope Elementary received the Administrator’s School Counselor Choice Award.

Dr. Micki Foster of New Hope Elementary was named School Counseling Administrator of the Year.

Kimberly Grant of EXCEL Academy, Monica Green of Hampton High, Dr. LaNekia Pruitt of Dutchtown High, and Cheryl Reddick of Union Grove High were recognized as First-Generation College Student Leaders.

The ceremony, held during National School Counseling Week, served to recognize all of Henry County’s school counselors who provide opportunities in the areas of academic achievement, social/emotional wellness, and college and career readiness through comprehensive school counseling programs.

This year’s theme for National School Counseling Week was “School Counselors: Helping Students Dream Big.”

“School counseling programs and their outcomes connect and align with the district’s mission and continuous school improvement plans,” said HCS Director of Counseling and Advisement Chon Hester. “Equipping our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in every aspect of life is always the ultimate goal of our comprehensive counseling programs in Henry County.”