The Florida School Counselor of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding school counselor in the state of Florida. The FL SCOY is recognized at the Annual FSCA Convention during our awards luncheon. The Florida School Counselor of the Year also joins the top school counselors from each state at the annual Counselor of the Year Gala in Washington D.C.

2027 FLORIDA SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

The Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) Awards and Professional Recognition Committee invites school counseling professionals from around the state to make nominations for School Counselor of the Year 2027 (SCOY).

Who May Nominate for SCOY

• FSCA Chapters
• District and school-level educators
• A FSCA member may nominate a colleague
• School counselors may self-nominate.

Criteria

A nominee must:

1. have completed 3 years of school counseling service by June 1, 2026;
2. be a current FSCA professional member as of June 1, 2026; and,
3. be employed as a DOE certified full-time school counselor for the SY 2025-2026.

The FL SCOY and FL SCOY Finalist must maintain employment as a DOE certified full-time school counselor through the SY 2026-2027.

HOW TO NOMINATE

1. Go to https://fsca.schoolcounselorawards.org/scoy/
2. Create an account. If it is your first time nominating, you must create an account. NOTE: This login is separate from your FSCA membership account.
3. Click “Nominate Someone” to start the nomination process for SCOY 2027.

Dates & TIMELINE

Nominations are open until February 28, at 11:59 pm (EST). Nominees will be contacted early March about next steps.

• View the full SCOY Timeline

QUESTIONS

If you have questions, email Jeannie Maddox or Dana Copes, Co-Chairs, at maddox@fla-schoolcounselor.org.

NOMINATE NOW!

FLORIDA SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS

Below notes the Convention Year awarded, and the Year as the School Counselor of the Year.

2024-2025

Cassandra D'Addeo

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Manatee County

Olga Middleton

Finalist
Palm Beach County

2023-2024

Dr. Carmen Larson

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Sarasota County

Dr. Randi Schietz

Finalist
Palm Beach County

2022-2023

Danya Laverack

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Indian River

Darius Jones

Finalist

Polk County

2021-2022

Joshua Nelson

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Duval County

Dr. Carmen S. Larson

Finalist
Sarasota County

2020-2021

Grace Wilhelm

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Duval County

Rachel Kusher

Finalist
Broward County

2019-2020

Jillian Gaygan

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Broward County

Dr. Khristi Keefe-Bowens

Finalist
Duval County

2018-2019

Megen Stair

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Palm Beach County

Christine Estrada

Finalist
Dade County

2017-2018

Larissa Bennett

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Manatee County

Gigi McIntire

Finalist
Broward County

2016-2017

Melissa Garcia

Florida School Counselor of the Year
Palm Beach County

Na'Toria Campbell

Finalist
Duval County

2015-2016

Daniel Shapiro

Elementary Counselor of the Year

Broward County

Lance Gondeck

Middle Counselor of the Year

Palm Beach County

Laura Ache

High School Counselor of the Year

Duval County

2014-2015

Jeannie Maddox

Elementary Counselor of the Year

Volusia County

Jennifer Lotti

Middle Counselor of the Year

Pinellas County

Teresa Hartl

High School Counselor of the Year

Palm Beach County

2013-2014

Gina Walters

Elementary Counselor of the Year

Pinellas County

Isabel Parrado

Middle Counselor of the Year

Miami Dade County

Tammy Hanby

High School Counselor of the Year

Hillsborough County