VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education alumna Elizabeth Parker was among five finalists honored by Michelle Obama at the American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year award ceremony, with fellow alumna Elizabeth Beatley honored among 31 semifinalists.

The event — held at the White House for the first time this year — served as a thank you to the nation’s school counselors who play an important role in steering students toward college and getting the education they need. The event was held Jan. 30.

Television star Connie Britton, who portrayed a school counselor on “Friday Night Lights,” joined the first lady in honoring the group.

Parker earned her M.Ed. in counselor education from the VCU School of Education in 2008 and is a school counselor at Dumbarton Elementary School in Henrico County Public Schools.

Beatley, a school counselor at Hanover County Public Schools, earned her M.Ed. in counselor education from the VCU School of Education in 2000.

Each of the VCU School of Educations’ five departments — Counselor Education, Educational Leadership, Foundations of Education, Special Education and Disability Policy, and Teaching and Learning — house programs that reflect the best that the individual disciplines have to offer. For more information, visit http://www.soe.vcu.edu/academicsprograms/department-listing/.

 

Feature image at top: Elizabeth Parker, wearing a VCU shirt, with her fellow finalists for the American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year award. Other finalists include, from left to right, Jennifer Diaz, Cory Notestine (who won the award), Jennifer Degruise and Tawnya Pringle (not shown.)

 

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