Our School Counselors of the Year
By Kelly Wright | March 2022
Congratulations to Jackie Chaplin, 2022 Maine school counselor of the year! We were delighted to honor her at the 2022 School Counselor of the Year Ceremony in Alfred, Maine. (Below from left, Kelly Weaver, chair, MESCA Board of Directors; Jackie Chaplin; and Nicole Breton, MESCA Board of Directors.)
In January, two of the top school counselors in Maine attended the trip of a lifetime. Kris Turcotte, 2020 Maine school counselor of the year, and Kim Raymond, our 2021 Maine school counselor of the year, went to Washington, D.C., to be recognized for the incredible work they do each and every day. Below, Kim and Kris celebrated at the School Counselor of the Year gala in Washington.
Kris Turcotte (above right) recently took over the position of student services coordinator for the Mid-Maine Technical Center. She had served as a school counselor at Messalonskee Middle School for 12 years. I have had the great honor to know Kris for over 10 years. I have seen the hard work and dedication that she puts into this profession. In addition to being passionate about supporting students, Kris has also worked hard to create a school counseling program that aligns with ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors. Kris served as the chair of the MESCA Board for two terms. While volunteering for the board, Kris worked tirelessly to be a voice for our profession. I recently asked Kris to tell me her “why” – what motivates her to show up each day? Kris responded with, “relationship building with students and staff, seeing the impact of my interactions with students and making positive connections.” I can say with confidence that Kris easily accomplishes this goal.
Kim Raymond (above left) is an elementary school counselor in Winterport, Maine. I had the incredible opportunity to spend some time with Kim at ASCA in Las Vegas last summer. I think she is quite possibly the most fun school counselor I have met. If you were to visit Kim at her school, you might be surprised to find her in costume. She has been known to dress as “Joy” from the Disney Movie “Inside Out” or a variety of other characters as she works to make learning fun and meaningful for her students. Kim shares that her “why” for the work she does is to “make sure all students know how much they matter every day.” Kim leads the Civil Rights Team at her school. The valuable work she does with her students is creating a culture of inclusivity and kindness at the Smith School. Kim has been on the MESCA board for several years. As the current assistant chair, Kim is constantly sharing strategies, resources and ideas with school counselors around the state.
Please join me in congratulating these incredible school counselors. They pave the way for our 2022 school counselor of the year, Jackie Chaplin, who will be celebrated in D.C. in January 2023. If you know someone who is deserving of the title of 2023 school counselor of the year, be sure to check the MESCA website this fall.
Contact Kelly Wright, MESCA board member, at kwright@rsu21.net.
In January, two of the top school counselors in Maine attended the trip of a lifetime. Kris Turcotte, 2020 Maine school counselor of the year, and Kim Raymond, our 2021 Maine school counselor of the year, went to Washington, D.C., to be recognized for the incredible work they do each and every day. Below, Kim and Kris celebrated at the School Counselor of the Year gala in Washington.
Kris Turcotte (above right) recently took over the position of student services coordinator for the Mid-Maine Technical Center. She had served as a school counselor at Messalonskee Middle School for 12 years. I have had the great honor to know Kris for over 10 years. I have seen the hard work and dedication that she puts into this profession. In addition to being passionate about supporting students, Kris has also worked hard to create a school counseling program that aligns with ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors. Kris served as the chair of the MESCA Board for two terms. While volunteering for the board, Kris worked tirelessly to be a voice for our profession. I recently asked Kris to tell me her “why” – what motivates her to show up each day? Kris responded with, “relationship building with students and staff, seeing the impact of my interactions with students and making positive connections.” I can say with confidence that Kris easily accomplishes this goal.
Kim Raymond (above left) is an elementary school counselor in Winterport, Maine. I had the incredible opportunity to spend some time with Kim at ASCA in Las Vegas last summer. I think she is quite possibly the most fun school counselor I have met. If you were to visit Kim at her school, you might be surprised to find her in costume. She has been known to dress as “Joy” from the Disney Movie “Inside Out” or a variety of other characters as she works to make learning fun and meaningful for her students. Kim shares that her “why” for the work she does is to “make sure all students know how much they matter every day.” Kim leads the Civil Rights Team at her school. The valuable work she does with her students is creating a culture of inclusivity and kindness at the Smith School. Kim has been on the MESCA board for several years. As the current assistant chair, Kim is constantly sharing strategies, resources and ideas with school counselors around the state.
Please join me in congratulating these incredible school counselors. They pave the way for our 2022 school counselor of the year, Jackie Chaplin, who will be celebrated in D.C. in January 2023. If you know someone who is deserving of the title of 2023 school counselor of the year, be sure to check the MESCA website this fall.
Contact Kelly Wright, MESCA board member, at kwright@rsu21.net.