Showell’s Carey named Delaware School Counselor of the Year

Cheryl Carey of Phillip C. Showell Elementary School in Selbyville has been named the 2016 Delaware School Counselor of the Year.
The award was given in March by the Delaware School Counselor Association. Prior to winning the overall state award, Carey was named Elementary School Counselor of the Year in February by the DSCA.
“It’s a great honor,” Carey said. “I look at it as my opportunity to represent all of us in the field of school counseling.”
Carey has been a school counselor at Phillip C. Showell since 1996. She is a past president and board member of DSCA and has served on the State Advisory Council for School Counselors. She has also been a professional development facilitator for counselors in the Indian River School District.
“Mrs. Carey has an extensive, in-depth knowledge of our students and their families. She has worked with several of our students’ families for years and several family members are her former students,” Phillip C. Showell Principal Karen Clausen said.
“This background knowledge of family history and needs has proven to be invaluable in enabling Mrs. Carey to plan for and provide the necessary services that encourage student success. She advocates and provides for children not only while they are attending Phillip C. Showell, but often follows these students through high school and beyond. Mrs. Carey’s contributions to her profession within the school setting, the district and state levels, as well as the local community are beyond commendable.”
Carey was also named Delaware Elementary School Counselor of the Year in 2007 and Sussex County Elementary Counselor of the Year in 2012.
“I don’t want it to be about me. I want it to be about my kids. Once you’re my kid, you’re always my kid,” she said. “I know students are better prepared for middle school because of what we do here.”
This is the third consecutive year that a counselor from the Indian River School District has won the Elementary Counselor of the Year award. Other district winners at either the elementary or middle school level were Jan Bomhardt (2015), Cathy Showell (2014), Dawn Brasure (2009), Cheryl Carey (2007) and Lisa Hunt (2005, overall state Counselor of the Year).
“I love what I do,” Carey said. “We have a fabulous group of school counselors in the Indian River School District.”
Carey is now eligible for the national School Counselor of the Year award given by the American School Counselor Association. The national winner will be announced in January 2017.