Copperas Cove Independent School District (CCISD) has achieved a remarkable milestone as the Texas School Counselor Association recently awarded four district campuses with the Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) Award. This prestigious recognition highlights the significant improvements made in school counseling programs, showcasing effective communication and a dedication to obtaining measurable results.

For the 2023-24 school year, House Creek Elementary secured the CREST Award for the third consecutive year under the guidance of Christina Jacobs and Amy Simpson, the current Director of Behavioral Support Services. “The role of a school counselor is incredibly impactful, leaving a lasting positive influence on both students and staff,” Simpson remarked. These words encapsulate the invaluable contribution of school counselors, whose work ranges from forming strong relationships with students to fostering resilience and advocating for meaningful change.

Martin Walker Elementary School, with counselor Hillary Newton at the helm, also earned the honor for the second year in a row. Newton expressed her satisfaction by stating, “Receiving the recognition of the CREST Award is confirmation for me that what I am doing is making a difference for students and it is worth the effort.”

For the first time, Copperas Cove High School (CCHS) and Copperas Cove Jr. High School have joined the ranks of CREST Award recipients. The Jr. High’s counseling program, led by Julie Armstrong and Yoshenobia Harris, garnered accolades for providing a supportive environment to help students navigate the transition from childhood to adolescence. “It feels great to be recognized for what you love doing,” Harris shared. “It gives you that extra confidence to know that your school’s program is doing wonderful things.”

At Copperas Cove High School, the awarding of the CREST Award is a collective achievement for the entire counseling team, including Melissa Dewald, BrendaLiz Gomez, Maria Velarde, Jessica Salazar, and Amy Trimm. Dewald expressed her pride by saying, “This accolade serves as recognition of hard work, dedication, and innovative approaches we implement to support the whole student.” Trimm added, “To me, the CREST award validates our efforts to empower others and foster trust, understanding and growth in our students. This is a shared achievement with the entire high school counseling staff.”

Established in 2005, the CREST Award recognizes schools with outstanding counseling programs. The award evaluates five key categories: the introduction to the school and the role of the professional school counselor, program implementation cycle, foundational components, four service delivery components, and program curriculum. “The work of school counselors is essential to students’ success, from pre-K through post-graduation,” Simpson said. This recognition validates the relentless efforts by school counselors to positively impact the lives of students across Copperas Cove, making a meaningful difference in the broader educational landscape.