School Counseling

Hero Grad Stock Photo — Delivering programs and supports that impact student growth

School Counselors Make an IMPACT!

School counselors play a critical role in ensuring schools provide a safe, caring environment and that students have the necessary mindsets and behaviors to advance academic achievement outcomes. School counselors deliver programs that have an impact on student growth in three domain areas: academic development, career development, and social / emotional development.

In this short video, 2025 School Counselor of the Year nominees from San Diego County, share their passion, purpose, and the deep impact of their work. Through their stories, you’ll hear why they do what they do—the moments that inspire them, the challenges they overcome, and the lasting connections they build with students. These interviews are more than just reflections—they capture the heart, dedication, and life-changing impact that school counselors make every day.

Programs and EventS

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development as a cornerstone of effective school counseling. ASCA’s position is clear: professional development is essential to staying current with educational trends, refining counseling practices, and ultimately, providing the highest level of support to students. By engaging in continuous learning, you ensure that you are not only meeting professional standards but also paving the way for innovative and impactful counseling programs.

UC/CSU Updates Session for School Counselors

SAVE THE DATE: Oct. 13, 2025

Meet local college representatives and learn important updates for both the UC and CSU systems. This session is designed for high school counselors in San Diego County who were unable to attend the fall UC and CSU school counselor conferences. This program is FREE to all participants.

Due to space, we recommend that schools with large teams only send 1 or 2 representatives.

Seeking Out Success For New School Counselors

Multilingual Learner Community of Practice

NEXT SESSION: May 23, 2025

This Community of Practice (CoP) offers school counselors (grades 6-12) the chance to connect, explore strategies to support multilingual learners, and exchange best practices.

Newsletter Sign Up Link

SIGN UP HERE

Stay connected on current events and programs for school counselors. Sign up to receive the monthly San Diego County School Counselor Newsletter.

LEADERSHIP NETWORKS

Equitable Transcript Evaluators (EQT) Network (opens in new window/tab)

2025-26 Meeting Dates Available Soon!

Join the SDCOE EQT Network to collaborate with administrators, school counselors, and registrars in developing countywide procedures for evaluating out-of-state, international, and out-of-district transcripts.

CCGI Leadership Team (opens in new window/tab)

2025-26 Meeting Dates Available Soon!

The California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) works to smooth the path to college for California students and unify the efforts of the institutions that serve them. Join the SDCOE CCGI Leadership Team to work collaboratively with other districts and schools to roll out this initiative and ensure that all students in our county have access to these resources.

District Leader Network

The District Leader Network (DLN) is a vibrant team of representatives from each of San Diego County's 42 districts, dedicated to supporting school counselors. Meeting bi-monthly, the DLN provides a platform for networking, sharing best practices, and collaborating on topics relevant to the profession. Participation in the DLN is by invitation only.

professional Learning Calendar

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More to Explore

San Diego County School Counselor Newsletter

SIGN UP to receive the San Diego County School Counselor Network Newsletter in your inbox monthly. Subscribe by clicking on the bell icon to the right below.

Catch up on San Diego County School Counselor newsletters sent this school year.

2024-25 NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Subscribe to Alerts

Social Media

Stay connected and share your work by following these accounts and tagging these handles in your social media posts.

School Counselor Leadership Awards

Honoring Excellence in School Counseling Leadership is a program that recognizes and celebrates school counselors who are leaders in our profession. We also recognize one School Counselor Advocate of the Year, one Administrator of the Year, and one Community-Based Organization of the Year.

2025 School Counselor Honorees

The San Diego County School Counselor of the Year (SCOY) program was created six years ago to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of school counselors across our county. Each year, this program highlights the dedication, service, and impact of professionals who go above and beyond to support students.

Beyond celebrating exceptional school counselors, we also recognize those who champion and elevate school counseling. We honor the School Counselor Advocate of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and Community-Based Organization of the Year—individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to support school counseling programs and student success.

Each of these recipients was surprised during National School Counseling Week, February 3-7, at their school or workplace, surrounded by colleagues, district leaders, families, and friends. It was a moment of joy, gratitude, and well-deserved recognition.

Chelsea Carnegie

Lexington Elementary School
Cajon Valley Union School District

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

Black Mountain Middle School
Poway Unified School District

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.

Graphic of High School Counselor of the Year

Susan Martinez Alejandre

Mission Hills High School
San Marcos Unified School District

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.

San Diego County School Counseling Leadership Advocate of the Year

Kristen Ereno

Coronado Union School Distric

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

San Diego County Office of Education

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 counselor, across San Diego County to come together to learn about topics specific to effectively supporting multilingual learners in our schools.

Students Without Limits!

Amie Scully

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.

Recognized ASCA Model Programs (RAMP)

RAMP recognizes schools committed to delivering comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National Model framework. The RAMP designation demonstrates to administrators, school boards, families and the community at large that the schools are committed to supporting the mission of the school and district. To date, approximately 1,200 schools have earned the RAMP designation.

2025 San Diego County RAMP Recipients

Bernardo Heights Middle School, Poway Unified School District
Westview High School, Poway Unified School District

2024 San Diego County RAMP Recipients

Aviara Oaks Middle School, Carlsbad Union School District
Fletcher Elementary School, San Diego Unified School District

2022 San Diego County RAMP Recipients

Greenfield Middle School, Cajon Valley Union School District
Patrick Henry High School, San Diego Unified School District

san diego county Race to Submit Campaign

Race to Submit is a statewide campaign that aims to increase the number of financial aid applications for California high school seniors who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application. Filling out these financial aid applications is the first step towards college success and helps students qualify for federal and state aid to help pay for college. In 2019, San Diego County started their first Race to Submit campaign countywide to encourage schools to monitor and support students through these efforts.

The San Diego County Race to Submit campaign was paused in 2023-24 due to challenges with the new FAFSA/CADAA applications, however it is set to resume in 2024-25.

Previous Award Honorees

San Diego County, High School Counselors of the Year

2024 Eryn Barker joined Bonsall High School in Bonsall Unified School District
2023 Christopher Toomey, San Pasqual Academy, SDCOE JCCS
2022 Christine Araki, Launch Virtual Academy, Sweetwater Union High School District
2021 Cherryl Baker, Mission Hills High, San Marcos Unified School District
2020 Lysabeth Luansing-Garcia, Sweetwater High, Sweetwater Union High School District

San Diego County, Middle School Counselors of the Year

2024 Candia Sierra London, Greenfield Middle School, Cajon Valley Union School District
2023 Karena Haro-Esparza, Feaster Charter School
2022 Nicole Roman, Twin Peaks Middle, Poway Unified School District
2021 Bonnie Hayman, La Mesa Arts Academy, La Mesa Spring Valley School District
2020 Edward Gigliotti, Pepper Drive, Santee School District

San Diego County, Elementary School Counselors of the Year

2024 Diego Arias, Loma Verde Elementary School, Chula Vista Elementary School District
2023 Heidi Saupe, Monte Vista Elementary School, Vista Unified School District
2022 Fran Hjalmarson, Los Penasquitos, Poway Unified School District
2021 Ann Pierce, Campo Elementary, Mountain Empire Unified School District

San Diego County Advocate of the Year

2024 Vivian Carranco, College and Career Readiness Specialist, Escondido Union High School District
2023 Lezya Weglarz, Counselor on Special Assignment, San Marcos Unified
2022 Tami Johnson, School Counselor Coordinator, Cajon Valley Union School District

San Diego County Administrator of the Year

2024 Dawn Cuizon, Grossmont Union High School District
2023 Greg Mizel, Assistant Superintendent, Poway Unified School District
2022 Tracy Wilson, Director II, College and Career Readiness, Grossmont Union High School District

San Diego County Lifetime Achievement Award in School Counseling Leadership

2023 Dr. Lonnie Rowell, Retired Professor, University of San Diego
2022 Dr. Trish Hatch, Professor Emeritus, SDSU, CEO & President, Hatching Results

San Diego County Community-Based Organization of the Year

2024 Cal-SOAP
2023 The San Marcos Promise, North County San Diego

Professional Organizations, Ethics, and Standards

College and Career Domain

COLLEGE /CAREER DOMAIN

COLLEGE/CAREER DOMAIN

In the college/career domain, school counselors help students plan for their future by providing guidance on college admissions, career exploration, and workforce readiness. They assist students in navigating the college application process, identifying financial aid opportunities, and making informed decisions about their post-secondary education. Counselors also offer career assessments and information on vocational training, internships, and other career pathways. Their role is crucial in helping students align their academic and personal strengths with their future goals, ensuring they are prepared for life beyond high school.

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Resources

ASCA has compiled a career development toolkit with all the resources you need for your students. Spark discussions with ASCA's Career Conversation Starters. The Career Conversations Starters provide a guide for working with students, families and community members to address the ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success. The career questions can be used to work with individuals and groups of students, families and community members. Check out Careers in a Flash to give your students short overviews of various career opportunities.

ASCA Position Statements: The School Counselor and Career Development and The School Counselor and Appraisal and Advisement for Postsecondary Preparation

SDCOE Professional Learning Workshops and Webinars

Workshop and webinars hosted and presented by SDCOE in the Career/College Domain will have all materials posted on this reference page:

Nov. 14, 2024ASVAB Career Exploration Program

Type: Virtual Webinar
Description: Participants will receive an In depth explanation of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) and how it helps students identify their pathway. A walk through will explain a student's academic strengths and weaknesses, and how the student can see the jobs nationwide that are specific to their current academic standing and interest. The presentation will go through college scholarship opportunities, college admission information, and a resume builder to assist students with a part time job.
Facilitator: Miguel A. Ortega Program Manager for the Career Exploration Program (CEP) and currently serves the counties of San Diego, Riverside, Imperial and Yuma, Arizona. Ortega is a 12-year Army Veteran and holds a Master’s Degree in Education.)
Webinar Recording: SDCOE School Counselor YouTube Playlist
Slides: ASVAB Career Exploration Program

Oct. 16, 2024 CSU/UC Updates for San Diego County High School Counselors

Type: In-Person Session
Description: Meet local college representatives and learn important updates for both the UC and CSU systems. This session is designed for high school counselors in San Diego County who were unable to attend the fall UC and CSU school counselor conferences.
Slides: SDSU and CSU Updates, Presenter: Matt Hebert
Slides: CSU San Marcos, Presenter: Kheng Waiche
Slides: Early Assessment Program (EAP), Presenter: Rosie Villafana-Hatcher
Slides: UC San Diego, Presenter: John Huart
Additional Resources: UC High School Counselor Conference (2024) | CSU Counselor Conference (2024)

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Financial Aid Guidebook for School Counselors: The Financial Aid Guidebook for School Counselors is an interactive guide filled with resources, tools, and documents to support schools in the delivery of this work. The 2025 FAFSA/CADAA window will open Dec. 1, 2024.

Financial Aid Resources for School Counselors: List of resources, contacts, and trainings for school counselors
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Student Resources
Foster Youth / Homeless Financial Aid Resources
SDCOE Scholarship Database

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE GUIDANCE INITIATIVE (CCGI)

The California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) works to smooth the path to college for California students and unify the efforts of the institutions that serve them. Combining data-driven tools and infrastructure with capacity building and student-focused curricula, we help close the gaps between systems and ensure that all California students, especially those who have been underrepresented in higher education, can move seamlessly from K-12 to college and career.

CaliforniaColleges.edu is the State of California’s official college and career planning platform. Offering detailed information, curricula, and tools informed by students’ transcript data, it acts as a one-stop shop to help students discover their college and career goals, make plans for how to achieve them, and launch into fulfilling futures.

High School Lesson Plans
Middle School Lesson Plans (Available Spring 2025)

College and Career Resources

Explore this curated list of resources that school counselors and others can use to aid and support students in preparation for their post-secondary options.

California College Affordability Summit (Nov. 2024): The 5th Annual California College Affordability Summit took place virtually on November 7, 2024. This event brought together K-12 educators, high school counselors, college financial aid administrators, student advocates, and policy leaders to share updates, resources, and tools for the 2025-26 application cycle. Links to materials and session recordings are available on their website.
College Checklists: Individual checklists for all local community colleges, UCs, and most applied to California State Universities (CSU), to ensure that students are aware of important deadlines.
Career Technical Education (CTE): Resources for school counselors on implementing successful career pathways.
College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCI) Chart: Infographic of the seven components to indicate that students are prepared for post-secondary options.
California Career Resource Network (CalNRN)
San Diego Workforce Partnership

Academic Domain

Social/Emotional Domain

Explore this curated list of resources that school counselors and others can use to aid and support students in personal and social, and mental health issues.

SDCOE Health and Well-Being Resources

SDCOE Special Populations Resources

SDCOE Systems of Support

CASC Personal/Social Lesson Plans by Level

Community-Based Organizations

Online Resources

PPS Supervision Course

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) built an online training to help universities and districts satisfy the most recent Pupil Personnel Services Standards in California. Completion of this course satisfies the CTC requirement of training to serve as a "University Supervisor" or "Site Supervisor" to a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential (School Counseling or School Social Work) candidate during their clinical practice, internship, or fieldwork requirement, earning you a badge of certification.

This course is appropriate for anyone supporting the practice of a new counseling or social work candidate and may include:

Site Counseling/Site Social Work Supervisor
University/Preparation Program Supervisor
PPS Field Experience Supervisor
Fieldwork Supervisor
Counseling/Social Work Support Lead

Learn more about costs and how to register.

main contacts

Dr. Tanya Bulette
School Counseling Coordinator
tanya.bulette@sdcoe.net

Lezya Weglarz
Project Specialist
lezya.weglarz@sdcoe.net

Erika Hernandez
Administrative Assistant
erika.hernandez@sdcoe.net

Transcripts and Records Request Information