Featured Finalist: Hanna Kemble-Mick

Hanna Kemble-Mick, school counselor/USD 437 dean of elementary school counseling, Indian Hills Elementary School, Topeka, Kan., is a 2025 School Counselor of the Year^® finalist. She has been a school counselor since 2015. Indian Hills Elementary School serves 474 students, grades K–6.

“She exemplifies exemplary character and integrity,” said Teresa Plachecki, acting principal, Indian Hills Elementary School. “With unwavering dedication, she places the well-being and success of our students at the forefront, acting as both a trusted mentor and a passionate advocate. Her compassionate demeanor and steadfast commitment to nurturing student growth have profoundly impacted our school community.” Read more about Hanna.

What Makes Hanna Tick?

What do you find most rewarding about being a school counselor? 
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a school counselor is witnessing students develop empathy and a sense of community through hands-on project-based learning. A great example of this is the Paws and Claws group I led. The project was inspired by our school therapy dog, Piper, and aimed to build life skills in students while giving back to the community. Students were highly engaged as they worked together to make enrichment toys for the Helping Hands Humane Society, learning the importance of collaboration, kindness and service. I remember how excited the students were when they saw the impact of their work firsthand. They visited the shelter to see how their creations were being used, and many of them shared that it made them feel proud and connected to something bigger than themselves. 

Seeing the students build teamwork skills, support each other, take pride in their projects, develop social skills in a real-world context and show heartfelt compassion for the animals was inspiring. This is what makes being a school counselor so gratifying – watching students realize their strengths and apply them to leave a positive mark.

What brings you joy?
So many things – polka dots, bright color, swimming, dogs and smiles always lift my spirits. I also love cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats and being around friends and family. Another special joy comes from playing dominos with my 97-year-old grandpa. He cheats terribly, but it makes the game so entertaining. And, of course, seeing students thrive and creating programs that unite our community fills me with a sense of purpose and happiness.

How do you help students thrive?
I help my students thrive by creating a welcoming, supportive environment where they feel valued and empowered to grow. A crucial part of this is developing my own programs tailored to meet my students’ unique needs, such as project-based learning groups, where they collaborate on real-world projects that build essential skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving. 

Building strong relationships is central to my approach. I strive to be a trusted adult students can turn to for a listening ear or help solving problems. Equity and access are always priorities. I advocate for all students, particularly LGBTQ+ students, to ensure they receive the support they deserve. 

What’s the most adrenaline-inducing adventure you’ve ever experienced?
I’ve been skydiving, and it was hands-down the most adrenaline-inducing adventure I’ve ever experienced. Jumping out of a plane thousands of feet in the air, free-falling with the wind roaring around me, was both exhilarating and terrifying. The rush of adrenaline was like nothing else, and once the parachute opened, the view was breathtaking – pure serenity after the initial chaos.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I was young because I love animals. I used to dream about helping all kinds of creatures, from family pets to wild animals. My love for animals has always been a big part of who I am, and it’s probably why I have such a strong connection to therapy dogs today.

What’s one bucket-list item you want to accomplish in 2025?
One bucket list item I want to accomplish in 2025 is completing the ASCA U Specialist training course on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. By completing this course, I’ll gain valuable tools to better advocate for students from all backgrounds and ensure equity in access to resources and support. This training will not only help me grow professionally but will also enhance my ability to address the unique needs of my students, particularly those from marginalized communities. 

If you were asked to cook a signature dish, what would it be?
If I were asked to cook a signature dish, it wouldn’t be a traditional meal but something I look forward to all year – pickling. In the summer, I go pickle crazy using my Grandma Kemble’s dill pickle recipe. I pickle everything from okra and asparagus to dilly beans and, of course, regular pickles. Growing up, the last pickle in the jar at Grandma’s house was always a hot commodity. My love for pickles runs so deep that I even named my dog Pickles.

What’s a weird fact you know? 
Flamingos aren’t born pink, and a flock of flamingos is called a flamboyance.

What’s your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert is my grandma’s homemade kolaches. It’s a special recipe passed down from my grandpa’s mother, who came from the Czech Republic. These sweet pastries are a family favorite.

If you could have an unlimited supply of something for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would want an unlimited supply of joy. Joy differs from happiness because it’s sparked by the little moments that delight and uplift us, as Ingrid Fetell Lee would say. Joy comes in bursts – like seeing bright colors, hearing laughter or feeling a sense of connection – and while it may not be constant, we can create more opportunities for it. These moments of joy bring lightness and energy, fueling everything I do. An endless supply of joy would help me stay grounded and energized, spreading that positivity to those around me and helping them thrive too.

How would you describe your job to a 5 year old?
A school counselor is a special helper and problem solver who does many things. If you’re sad, mad or worried, you can talk to them, and they’ll help you feel better. But that’s not all. They also help you learn about being a good friend, sharing and being kind. Plus, they help you with your learning, like how to do your best in school and reach your goals. And when you grow up and start thinking about what you want to be, like a firefighter, teacher or even an astronaut‚ they can help you figure that out too. So the school counselor is here to help you feel good, learn lots and dream big!

Do you have any hidden talents? What can you do?
Arts and crafts. I love to create – doodling, watercolor, making earrings, you name it. I taught myself to sew during the pandemic and made more than 1,000 face masks. I found a pattern on the internet, created the masks and steeped them in essential oils to bring a calming scent to the wearer. I sent several hundred masks to Kenya to a village I had visited. I also mailed masks to six countries. Making the masks kept me busy and connected to many people during the pandemic. I even designed the fabric and created it so the masks were unique and special. I received messages from mask wearers about how their RBG mask brought them joy or how the Ted Lasso mask got folks talking.

What’s the one place in your city you tell visitors not to miss?
The Brown vs. Board of Education museum is a must-see for visitors. It provides a profound insight into the landmark Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. It’s a powerful experience that encourages reflection on the importance of education and social change.

What’s your favorite smell and why?
Tyler Candles’ Diva scent is my favorite. In high school, I worked at My Gosh!, my grandma’s gift shop. She always had a Diva candle burning. The scent instantly takes me back to those memories of her and the incredible impact she had on my life. She was a fierce diva; that smell reminds me of her strength and love. It’s like a little tribute to her whenever I light a Diva candle. 

What’s one important skill you think everyone should have?
One crucial skill everyone should have is the ability to practice empathy. Empathy allows us to understand and connect with others on a deeper level, whether in personal relationships or professional settings. It helps us build stronger, more meaningful connections and navigate conflicts with kindness and respect. Being able to step into someone else’s shoes, see the world from their perspective and respond with compassion is crucial for fostering healthy relationships and creating inclusive, supportive environments where everyone can thrive. Empathy is the foundation of effective communication and positive change.

What could you talk about for 30 minutes with no notes?
I could easily talk for 30 minutes about artificial intelligence integration – where it’s going, how we can use it effectively as school counselors and the safeguards we need to put in place to help students use it safely. I’m particularly passionate about the idea that AI literacy will become the next major equity gap, and it’s critical for us as counselors to stay ahead of the curve. By doing so, we can ensure our students are prepared for the future, equipped with the knowledge to use AI responsibly and to their advantage.

You have your own late-night talk show – who would you invite as your first guest?
If I had my own late-night talk show, my first guest would be Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. I’m absolutely obsessed with her podcast, “The Happiness Lab,” which has been a game-changer for me both personally and professionally. She’s a cognitive scientist who teaches one of Yale’s most popular courses, The Science of Well-Being. Her work delves into the psychology of happiness and how we can rewire our brains to lead more fulfilling lives. 

How did you get into school counseling? How did you know it was the right path for you?
I came into school counseling in a non-traditional way. I started as a school counselor at nine years old, when my mom, a school counselor, would test her lessons on my brother and me. We’d give her feedback, and my mom always thought my brother would be the one to follow in her footsteps because he had such great ideas.

I’ve always had a creative side. I love the arts, enjoy creating and have a passion for digital creation, which led me to advertising. After earning my degree in advertising, I landed a job as a social media manager at a website design and development firm, and soon after, I was promoted to project manager. I loved my team at the firm; qe worked so well together, collaborating with designers, developers and clients to make sure projects were delivered on time and to the clients’ satisfaction. It was a fun and creative environment, but something was missing for me.

After much reflection, I realized that working with kids brought me the most joy. Whether it was teaching swimming lessons, coaching the swim team, tutoring, working with Girl Scouts or coaching Little League soccer, those experiences filled my heart. That’s when I knew school counseling was the right path for me.

At the time, Kansas was experiencing a school counselor shortage, and the state had just started allowing people to earn their school counseling degrees without having to teach first. Despite some discouragement from the college dean, who didn’t understand how advertising and school counseling connected, I enrolled anyway. It was the best decision of my life. Now I get to spend every day doing what I love – serving students, supporting the school community and watching kids find their strengths and grow. It’s an incredibly fulfilling career, and I’m so glad I made the switch.