A Hanover County Public Schools counselor has been recognized nationally.
Shannon Edwards, the career counselor at Atlee High School and Patrick Henry High School, won the 2020 Association for Career and Technical Education Counseling and Career Development School Counselor of the Year. The honor was announced at the National ACTE Vision Conference in December.
The award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who demonstrate a commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success while exhibiting innovation in career exploration and development, and advocate for career and technical education as a viable option for all students.
Edwards co-facilitates the schools’ scholarship committee and also works every day to provide career counseling and job search coaching to students. She also coordinates higher education and military visits to Atlee High School and Patrick Henry High School, connects students with internship opportunities, and helps students explore their career choices.
“This is an incredible honor to me. Every day that I walk into Atlee and Patrick Henry high schools I feel both blessed and tremendous gratitude to have the opportunity to support our wonderful students and families,” Edwards said. “As a school counselor/career counselor, I am beyond proud of this recognition. I am thankful to be a part of our amazing Hanover School Counseling team and am fortunate to be surrounded by colleagues that inspire me to go above and beyond every day for our students.”
“Shannon Edwards is a role model for what a school counselor should embody. Her creativity and dedication to her job takes her program to the next level,” said Karla Allen, HCPS Coordinator of Counseling Services. “Shannon’s work with college and career opportunities for her students and community provides equity and access to all, especially in this current virtual environment. I could not be prouder of Shannon for this award that highlights her work and takes Hanover County Public Schools career programs to the national level for recognition.”
Edwards, a Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University alumna, has served Hanover County students since 2017. She came to education after a career as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She felt drawn to a job that allowed her to help others, particularly students.
“School Counseling/Career Counseling is the perfect fit for me. It took me several years to discover this, which is why I feel drawn to helping students explore their interests early on,” Edwards said. “Although, choosing a career field isn’t a perfect science, having information and knowledge about a particular career area allows you to make more well-informed decisions about your future.”
The Virginia Chapter of ACTE nominated her for her career counseling work and for building a Counseling and Career Development Division with Virginia ACTE.