Earlier this month,
Keolu Elementary counselor, Bianca Yanuaria, represented Hawai‘i in Washington,
D.C. at the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) 2018 Counselor of
the Year ceremony. Her practice and programs to maximize the academic, career,
personal and social development of her students made her the standout choice
for the Hawai‘i School Counselor Association (HSCA) state counselor of the
year. Yanuaria was selected out of more than 600 public and private school
counselors across the state.
“It’s an honor to
represent the state as the School Counselor of the year. It’s humbling to be
recognized for doing what I’m passionate about, which is helping students
realize their potential and to make sure they are ready to face any challenge
life throws their way,” shared Yanuaria. “Mahalo to these wonderful counselor
associations for this opportunity and for supporting school counselors like
me.”
The School Counselor
of the Year program recognizes individuals who have helped students and advocated
on their behalf in school and in life. The ceremony and awards gala, which
featured keynote speaker former First Lady Michelle Obama, took place on
Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 at the Kennedy Center and Union Station in Washington,
D.C.
In honor of National
School Counseling week, the Hawaii State Department of Education recognizes
Yanuaria for her accomplishments.
“Congratulations and
mahalo to Bianca and all of our school counselors for their dedication to our
students,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Bianca’s innovative
programs are a wonderful example of how our schools are encouraging students to
find their voice and promoting teacher collaboration.”
Yanuaria has
implemented a variety of fresh and creative initiatives at Keolu Elementary
including a recess program aimed at teaching conflict resolution, an attendance
program that has helped to reduce chronic absenteeism from 17 percent to 6
percent, wove her guidance lessons and counseling into her school garden, and
started an Aloha Committee to help build relationships among the school’s
faculty.
“We are honored to
endorse Bianca as our Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year. While she is still
at an early stage in her career, she has fully embraced her role and this can
be seen through her accomplishments at our school,” added Gay Kong, Principal,
Keolu Elementary. “Her continued professional learning has led to ingenious
practices with our students.”
Yanuaria has been the
School Counselor at Keolu Elementary for four years. She is a Maui High School
alum and graduate of the University of California, Davis with a bachelor’s
degree in Communication and California State University, Sacramento with a master’s degree in Counseling.
“School counselors
make significant contributions to the overall well‐being of students and their
success,” said Richard Wong, Ed.D., executive director, American School
Counselor Association. “They have unique qualifications and skills that allow
them to address students’ academic achievement, career development and
social/emotional needs. Through the school counselor of the year award, we are
able to acknowledge their diligence, commitment and excellence.”
ASCA is celebrating
2018 National School Counseling Week from Feb. 5-9. The goal of the week is to
focus focus public attention
on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. For
more information about ASCA, click here,
and for information about HSCA, click here.