Hood Faculty Member Named MSCA Educator of the Year

FREDERICK, Maryland—Laura Jones, a Hood College faculty member, was recognized as Educator of the Year by the Maryland School Counselor Association at a gala on Feb. 9. She is a full-time school counselor at Kemptown Elementary School, and she teaches counseling as an adjunct instructor at Hood.

The MSCA formally honored Jones and other award winners at its National School Counseling Week gala at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland. NSCW is an annual event to recognize and celebrate the efforts and value of school counselors and the work that school counselors do to support all students.

The Educator of the Year award recognizes a post-baccalaureate instructor in a school counseling preparation program that leads to emerging professionals who are more equipped than their peers to plan and implement a model comprehensive school counseling program. To win this award, a nominee must inspire school counseling students to be leaders, advocates and collaborators.

Two of Jones’ graduate students from Hood nominated her for the positive energy; engaging, hands-on, all-inclusive activities; and intriguing discussions she brings to every class. She is a mentor and one of the most inspiring professors the students have had. She teaches that, no matter what, the biggest job of school counselors is the unconditional instillation of hope to their students that it gets better and that they will do everything they can to make sure of it.

“It is so humbling to hear the wonderful things my students have to say about me,” said Jones. “I truly love being a school counselor and LOVE sharing my knowledge and skills with ‘school counselors in training!’ My goal is to help train and mold these students into becoming excellent school counselors with whom I would be honored to work.”

Jones earned her doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Argosy University, her master’s degree in counselor education from McDaniel College and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Towson University.

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