CVES counseling program honored at ALCA conference

Published 4:16 pm Tuesday, December 5, 2017

ALABASTER – Creek View Elementary School Counselor Daniel Birdsong was recently recognized as the Asa Sparks New School Counselor of the Year at the 2017 Alabama School Counseling Association Annual Conference in Mobile on Thursday, Nov. 16.

“To be named as the ALCA New Counselor of the Year is a huge honor,” said Birdsong, who works with second and third graders. “In my one-and-a-half years at Creek View, the counseling program has been very successful because of the support it has received from our stakeholders.”

Through the work of Birdsong and fellow CVES Counselor Rebekah Hughey, the CVES counseling program also received the Recognition of Accountability, Verification and Excellence Award at the conference.

“It’s a really great way to show that what we do really matters,” Birdsong said.

According to Birdsong, the CVES counseling program has worked with a primary focus on guidance and emotional support, career development and academic support.

Recently, Birdsong said CVES has offered surveys for students, faculty and parents to ensure they feel safe and content at school. Counselors have also implemented small-group counseling for students who are struggling with self-esteem, making friends, divorce, grief and other challenges. CVES is also partnering with Chilton-Shelby Mental Health to get students help outside of school if necessary.

“We have supported and started programs for all three areas,” Birdsong said.

Birdsong said earning the RAVE Award would not have been possible without Hughey, who primarily works with students in pre-K through first grades.

“Rebekah is an integral part of what we do at Creek View,” Birdsong said. “Both of us work hard to make sure that our students feel supported.”