2025 San Diego County Counselors of the Year Announced

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) recently surprised three school counselors at their campuses who were named 2025 San Diego County Counselors of the Year. 

This year’s honorees include:

• Chelsea Carnegie, Lexington Elementary School, Cajon Valley Union School District - Elementary level
• Jason Schafer, Black Mountain Middle School, Poway Unified School District - Middle School level
• Susan Martinez Alejandre, Mission Hills High School, San Marcos Unified School District - High School level. 

“Our school counselors continue to play an integral role in ensuring the academic success and well-being of our students throughout the county,” said Tanya Bulette, Counseling coordinator for SDCOE. “This year, we got to meet with all of our counselor of the year finalists to spend time with them on their campus, which gave us wonderful insight from students and coworkers.” 

The School Counselor of the Year awards are sponsored by North Island Credit Union. Each honoree was awarded a $500 check from the credit union. The counselors will be highlighted and recognized during an in-person event in April.

In addition, three special awards in school counseling leadership – Advocate of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and Community-Based Organization of the Year – were announced this week.

• Kristen Ereno, lead counselor, Coronado Union School District, received the Advocate of the Year.
• Antonio Mora, district advisor, San Diego County Office of Education, was presented the School Counselor Administrator of the Year award. 
• Students Without Limits was given the Community Based Organization of the Year award. 

“North Island Credit Union is honored to partner with the San Diego County Office of Education in this very important recognition of school counselors and their commitment to helping students achieve their potential,” said North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O’Connell. “We are proud to celebrate the inspiring achievements of our educators as part of our credit union’s mission to serve and support the San Diego education community. We congratulate these 2025 Counselor of the Year honorees for their outstanding work in making an essential difference in their students’ lives and their school communities.”

All recipients will be recognized at a special awards ceremony on March 7. 

Find information about school counseling and upcoming events on the SDCOE School Counseling webpage.

About The Honorees

Chelsea Carnegie has been a driving force in creating meaningful opportunities for students at Lexington Elementary, ensuring that every  young person she works with feels seen, heard, and valued. Her dedication to advocacy, collaboration, and leadership is evident in everything she does. Recognizing the importance of supporting students’ emotional needs, Mrs. Carnegie collaborated with district staff and partnered with other schools to create Lexington's "Peaceful Place," the first regulation room at the elementary level in Cajon Valley Union School District. The room has since become a safe haven for every student to regulate their emotions, build social skills, and foster a sense of belonging.
Jason Schafer has been a pillar of the Black Mountain Middle School community for the past 21 years, tirelessly supporting students in discovering their strengths and fostering a deep sense of belonging. His work with the AVID program helped Black Mountain Middle School become a National Demonstration School—a testament to his dedication to opening doors of opportunity for students. Recognizing the importance of meaningful connections, he also implemented an advisory/homeroom class, strengthening student-adult relationships and fostering a supportive, inclusive school culture.
Susan Martinez Alejandre has been creating meaningful opportunities for students, ensuring that every young person she works with feels seen, heard, and valued for the past 10 years. Her dedication to equity, advocacy, and leadership is evident in everything she does. From her work developing and facilitating groups like RAICES and Mariposa—which center cultural identity, belonging, and personal growth—to her leadership in foster youth advocacy, Susan is relentless in her commitment to helping students thrive. Susan was a driving force behind the creation of the Zen Den, a dedicated space where students can take a break, practice coping skills and self-regulation before returning to class.
Kristen Ereno takes the title lead counselor seriously in Coronado Unified School District. Her work has led to the consistent use of data to improve student placement, master scheduling, and support for historically underserved populations. She has strengthened communication between counselors, students, and families, ensuring that every student has the guidance and resources they need to succeed. And because of her relentless dedication, more students in CUSD are a-g eligible and prepared for postsecondary success. Since joining CUSD, she has co-written $1.2 million in Career Technical Education (CTE) grants, to bring new opportunities and pathways to students.
Anthony (Tony) Mora is not just a supporter of school counselors—he is a true advocate. At the beginning of the school year, Tony came to us to see if we were interested in starting a community of practice, with both the Multilingual Education and Global Achievement (MEGA) and Migrant Education teams to provide an opportunity for middle and high school counselors across San Diego County to come together to learn about topics specific to effectively supporting multilingual learners in our schools.
Students Without Limits! was given the Community Based Organization of the Year award for being a lifeline for countless students who face unimaginable challenges. Founder and CEO Amie Scully dedicated her time to mentoring and advocating for underserved youth, both in the U.S. and abroad. Recognized by numerous organizations for her unwavering commitment, Amie has devoted her life to ensuring that our most vulnerable students have access to the support, resources, and fierce advocacy they need to succeed.