H-ton Celebrates National School Counseling Week

Huntington UFSD is joining with school districts across the country in celebrating National School Counseling Week 2025. Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, the week will highlight the significant impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Huntington UFSD’s corps of school counselors includes: Primary/Intermediate Schools: Ms. Ruth Escobar; J. Taylor Finley Middle School: Ms. Lissanny Batista, Mrs. Alison Logan,Mrs. Paloma Ramlogan: Huntington High School: Dr. Daphne Ali, Mrs. Ivy Alvayero, Ms. Diana Bonilla, Mrs. Lauren Brunoni, Ms. Evelyn Hernandez, Mr. Steve Lashin, Mrs. Daniela Spillane, Mrs. Bernadette Walsh

Dr. Ricky V. Papandrea Jr. serves as Huntington UFSD’s director of school counseling and testing, K-12.

School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.

School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an essential part of the total educational program.

“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills,” said Jill Cook, ASCA executive director. “School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”