Proclamation
National School Counseling Week
WHEREAS, school counselors are employed in public and private schools to help students reach their full potential; and
WHEREAS, school counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development; and
WHEREAS, school counselors help parents focus on ways to further the educational, personal and social growth of their children; and
WHEREAS, school counselors work with teachers and other educators to help students explore their potential and set realistic goals for themselves; and
WHEREAS, school counselors seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs and help students become productive members of society; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school;
Therefore, Dillon County, does hereby proclaim February 7-11, 2022, as National School Counseling Week.
Melanie Blanchard is the school counselor at Latta High School. Before becoming a school counselor, Melanie taught history for thirteen years in Latta, SC. She currently teaches Theory of Knowledge while also serving students as a school counselor. Melanie earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Winthrop University. She is currently enrolled at Liberty University. Melanie lives in Sellers, SC with her husband and two children. Melanie often says, “It is never a dull moment, and I am truly blessed.” Jenise Bracey received her School Counseling degree from Winthrop University. She has been a school counselor for 15 years in Dillon District 4. She lives in Dillon with her husband, Kent Bracey and their two boys, Ron and Reese Bracey.
Carolyn Crawford currently work as a School Counselor at Dillon County Technology Center. I have been a School Counselor for 17 years. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology from Limestone College, Master of Education in School Guidance and Counseling from Cambridge College, and Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College. Ms. Crawford’s greatest joy of being a School Counselor is knowing she is building strong relationships students and showing them important life lessons that will help them succeed beyond the four walls of the school building.
Jane Crawford has been working in Dillon School District Four for 25 years. She has been a school counselor at J. V. Martin/Dillon Middle School for 13 years. Ms. Crawford’s mission as a school counselor is to help students engage, focus, evoke positive change and plan for their future.
Leigh Darby Sloan is the school counselor at Latta Elementary. She has invested her time in improving the lives of students in Dillon County for the past 27 years having served as a counselor and administrator. Her true love is working directly with students to teach them the skills they need for a successful future. She is married to Roger Sloan and they have three children, Darby, Maggie (Robert) and Carson.
Virginia Foreman Melton has been the School Counselor for the past seven years at Latta Middle School. Prior to becoming a school counselor, Virginia taught 5th grade ELA and Social Studies at Latta’s Elementary and Middle School. She is a graduate of Francis Marion University and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. In addition to school counseling, Virginia also serves as an advisor for the LMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, FCA co-leader, and Latta High School Head Varsity Softball Coach. Virginia currently lives in Wallace, SC with her husband, Curtis, daughter, Charlye, and three ‘fur babies’ Creighton, Chloe, and Pepe’.
Kimberley Garris is a certified professional school counselor who serves as the school counselor of Lake View High School. She earned her M.Ed. in K-12 School Counseling from Lamar University in 2014.
Her education and training are based on the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model and the Strengths-Based School Counseling framework. Along with her master’s degree, Kimberley also has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Francis Marion University.
Before becoming Lake View’s school counselor, she was a fifth-grade math teacher for ten years. Growing up in Lake View and being a Lake View High School graduate herself, Kimberley has a special affinity to the community and the students of Lake View. She strives to help students overcome various obstacles and encourages them to become self-reliant, productive members of society.
Rebekah Grice Baker began her career in education at Gordon Elementary School in 1988. After 10 years as a 4th grade classroom teacher, she attended Winthrop University to receive her Master of Education degree for School Guidance Counseling. This will be Mrs. Baker‘s 34th year in education at Gordon Elementary School. She is married to Levern Baker, and they have four sons and two grandchildren. Mrs. Baker believes “A person’s most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge; But a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help”.
Angel Huffman-Page has returned to Dillon District Four as a high school counselor. She was previously employed with Dillon District Four as a counselor at Dillon High School from 1999-2005. During her time away from Dillon, she was employed with Florence 1 Schools for 16 years as a school counselor with South Florence High School, and retired after 31 years of service to the state of South Carolina. She has a passion for working with young adults. She feels inspired when she has the opportunity to see students mature over their high school career as 9th grade students entering high school, and then to see them graduate as a mature student ready for their postsecondary future. Mrs. Huffman-Page, along with her husband Coach Darryl C. Page, have raised their son Jalen (age 23) and daughter Kerian (age 20) in the Florence, SC community.
Larece Hunt is the school counselor at Lake View Elementary School for eight years. He previously worked in North Carolina for 39 years, J. V. Martin Jr. High for five years and at Dillon High School for one year. This is Mr. Hunt’s 53rd year in education. He is married to Audrey Hunt and they have a blended family of six children and a grandson. The hope of making a difference in a students’ lives, to see them grow and become productive citizens. Many of our students lacks the experience and exposure to different types of cultures and environments. Mr. Hunt sees his role as to bring about situations that would enlighten their exposure. It is all about the students.
Dr. Harriet M. Jackson is a 44 year veteran educator. She has many educational experiences over her career, serving as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, health career counselor, elementary and middle school principal and an Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Jackson retired from a career in North Carolina to pursue one of her first “loves” as a high school counselor at Dillon High School. She often shares with students that while she was an administrator for many years, it was always her desire to become a counselor again. Dr. Jackson enjoys helping students make career decisions while planning for college, military, or the workforce. She is thankful for the opportunity to help students plan for their future. Dr. Jackson is married to Dr. Walter Jackson, assistant principal at Dillon Middle School. The couple has a son, Walter. IV a graduate of Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, N. C. and now attends law school at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Kimberly Jackson has been an employee of Dillon School District Four for 20 years. She had various jobs in the district starting as a Parent Liaison and then working with two and three year olds before obtaining a School Counseling job. Kim has been a School Counselor for 11 years, at Gordon Elementary during 2011-2012 and at Dillon High School since 2012. She enjoys working with children. Working with the high school students is just as rewarding if not more. Mrs. Jackson enjoys when the student’s hard work and dedication pays off. When they have reached their goal of either, college, military, or the workforce.
She has been married to Jasper Jackson Jr. for 37 years and together, they have 7 children, 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Kimberly Nelson is a from Mullins, South Carolina. She resided in Georgia for about 20 years with her husband and daughter.
Kimberly has worked for the states of Georgia and South Carolina in various positions for over 20 years collectively. She returned to the Pee Dee Area about five years ago and worked in Florence as the CTAE Counselor for 2 years and a high school counselor for 3 years. She is currently the school counselor for Stewart Heights Elementary and South Elementary Schools. Kimberly is the proud grandmother of Josiah and Jordyn Tillman, who reside in Sandersville, Georgia with my daughter and her husband Shakira and Jeremy Tillman. She believes that “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” Not her words but a quote by Rita Pierson, which motivates her to give her best to all students. Kimberly loves being a school counselor and that her students are excited and ready to discuss Social and Emotional Learning when she enters the classroom.
Dr. Miranda E. Page has been a School Counselor in Dillon School District Four since 1996. She has been at East Elementary School for 17 years and previously worked at South Elementary and Stewart Heights Elementary as a School Counselor for 8 years.
This is Dr. Page’s 33rd year in the field of education. She feels is no greater excitement or reward in the world than the feeling of knowing that she has touched the life of at least one child every day.
Knowing that she can and do make a difference is the ultimate reward.
Dr. Page will never forget the hugs, notes, fist bumps, high fives and smiles that she has received from students thanking her for helping them. When she receives these gestures, nothing can compare to the feeling of exhilaration and gratification.
Dr. Page is married to Cedric Page and they have two children, Cequordric and Laterrin.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS PHOTO GALLERY
