Florence-Carlton High School counselor receives counselor of the year award
MISSOULA, Mont. — The American School Counselor Association has selected its winner for counselor of the year award.
This year’s award goes to Alli Bristow of Florence-Carlton High School.
Bristow has been a school counselor since 2006.
She worked with various groups to make a counseling program and creating systems for child assistance meetings.
The American School Counselor Association released the following:
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the Montana School Counselor Association are pleased to announce Alli Bristow, School Counselor at Florence-Carlton High School in Florence, Montana is being honored as a 2023 state school counselor of the year, representing the state of Montana has been a school counselor since 2006. Alli’s nominee stated “Reflecting on my long career in education, I can’t think of another counselor I’ve collaborated with who is more deserving of this award.” Alli worked over a number of years and with various other onsite counselors to create a comprehensive counseling program in the Florence-Carlton School District. She also worked with administration to create a system for making data-informed decisions through the implementation of a CICO system, Child Assistance Meetings, and Meaningful Work (student school related jobs). Last year, Alli wrote a grant requesting OPI ARP-HCY funds. As a result, Florence-Carlton School District was awarded a sizable amount of money. This grant helps meet the needs of students who are homeless and funds a much needed after-school tutoring program which supports high school and middle school students academic needs universally. Other accomplishments include:
● Development of a tracking and data system for monitoring and matching Tier II to appropriate interventions
● Working with the Bitterroot Valley Education Co-op and Ravalli County schools to develop crisis response teams and assessments for student risk management
● Led the implementation of the Olweus Bully Prevention Program
● Created grade-level counseling curriculum maps tied to the ASCA mindsets
● Partnered with Western Montana Mental Health to present a suicide prevention curriculum to middle school students
● Presented at Shape Montana where she provided guidance to PE/Health Enhancement teachers on creating engaging classroom lessons on suicide prevention
“Each year, the School Counselor of the Year program shows us what the research tells us – that school counselors have a significant impact on students’ academic achievement, social/emotional development and plans for life after graduation,” said Jill Cook, ASCA executive director. “Through their dedication, contributions and excellence, these finalists have demonstrated their commitment to the values and mission of the school counseling profession.” The School Counselor of the Year, finalists and state school counselors of the year will be celebrated in Washington, D.C., in February 2023 and will participate in webinars and additional online events during National School Counseling Week, Feb. 6–10, 2023.
