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A Branch of the American Counseling Association
TEXAS COUNSELING ASSOCIATION
1204 San Antonio, Ste. 201 × Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 472-3403 OR (800) 580-8144 × Fax: (512) 472-3756
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A Branch of the American Counseling Association
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A Branch of the American Counseling Association
Socorro & Northside ISD Schools Receive Nat’l Counseling Awards
RAMP Award: Recognized ASCA Model Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TCA President- Judy Nelson- 936.294.4659
Bill Sybert K-8 School, Socorro ISD, and Beard Elementary School, Northside ISD, were nationally recognized last week by the American School Counselor Association’s [ASCA] RAMP award for commitment to maintaining a comprehensive school counseling program.
The RAMP, or Recognized ASCA Model Program, award recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and provide an exemplary educational environment for their students. Sybert K-8 and Beard Elementary are two of the 72 schools nationwide to receive the prestigious 2009 RAMP award.
SISD professional school counselors Esmeralda Armendariz, Melissa Dixon, Rosa Gonzalez and principal Carole Bauer as well as NISD professional school counselors Patsy Guerra, Donna Van Allen, Sandi Vasquez and principal Mark Rustan are proud recipients of the 2009 RAMP award for comprehensive counseling program excellence.
RAMP schools, spanning the K-12 spectrum, received award designations during a special ceremony at ASCA’s annual “Making a Difference” conference last week in Dallas, Texas.
“RAMP counselors take leadership roles in their schools by designing guidance programs that are data driven and align with the ASCA Model Guide,” Judy Nelson, President of the Texas Counseling Association [TCA], said. “Starting with a thorough assessment of student needs and ending with quantitative results that prove the effectiveness of counseling programs, professional school counselors contribute to the educational, career, personal, and social development of every student they serve.”
Research indicates that professional school counselors are a critical link in reducing dropout rates, improving academic performance and increasing participation in post secondary education.
RAMP was established in 2003 to support creditable school counseling programs and continues to grow and evolve with the practice of comprehensive school counseling. To date, more than 250 schools across the country have received the RAMP designation.
All RAMP counselors at Beard Elementary are members of the Texas Counseling Association [TCA]. Professional school counselors Melissa Dixon and Rosa Gonzalez of Sybert K-8 School are past members of TCA. Formed in 1947, TCA is a non-profit association that represents more than 6,000 professional counselors in a variety of specialties across the state and serves members by providing leadership, advocacy and education to advance the growth and development of the counseling profession and those served. [www.txca.org]
ASCA is a worldwide, non-profit organization founded in 1952 that supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, personal, social and career development. [www.schoolcounselor.org]
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A Branch of the American Counseling Association