My sister Vanessa, best school counselor in America for 2009?

My youngest sister, Vanessa Gomez-Lee has been nominated 10 ten school counselors in the United States and is also one of the finalist to be 2009 Counselor of the Year. Vanessa attended Crestline School during her elementary years. She graduated from Barstow High in 1990 and Barstow College in 1992. We are very proud of her accomplishments. Good Luck sis. Joe

The School Counselor of the Year program, presented by Naviance and ASCA, honors the best of the best -- school counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle or high school level. This newly enhanced program brings 10 finalists and their nominators to Washington, D.C., in late January, where they participate in a congressional briefing, tour Washington, D.C., and are honored at the School Counselor of the Year Gala. From these 10 finalists, one school counselor of the year is selected. Nominations for the 2010 awards will be open in spring 2009.

* Marilyn S. Agee, Concord East Side Elementary School, Elkhart, Ind.

* Margaret S. Cheeley, Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, Ga.

* Vanessa Gomez-Lee, Valley View High School, Moreno Valley, Calif.

* Karen Gannon Griffith, Berkeley Lake Elementary School, Duluth, Ga.

* Julie Hartline, Campbell High School, Smyrna, Ga.

* Laurie Maheen Huntwork, Aloha Huber Park Pre-K-8 School, Beaverton, Ore.

* Brian Law, Valdosta High School, Valdosta, Ga.

* Ana M. Leon, Wilton Manors Elementary School, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

* Diane M. Reese, Ph.D., STEP Center/Academy 1, T.C.Williams High School, Alexandria, Va.

* Steve Schneider, Sheboygan South High School, Sheboygan, Wis.

Vanessa Gomez-Lee is a passionate and dedicated credentialed school counselor, who has worked in Moreno Valley Unified School District for the past 12 years. Currently, she is the Lead Student Assistance Program Counselor in Moreno Valley Unified School District. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego and her Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of San Diego. Vanessa has served as head counselor, developed various programs, and has served on the district’s task force team during the implementation of the National Standards. She is also a contributing author of the Award Winning Comprehensive Student Assistance Program at Moreno Valley Unified School District. In 2004, Vanessa was selected by the American School Counselor Association to be the featured school counselor in the production of a video depicting the day and life of a school counselor. Vanessa is the Vice President on the board of Suicide Awareness Requires Action. She is an Adjunct Professor at San Diego State University. Vanessa has served as a counselor consultant and is a Trainer of Trainers in developing Student Assistance Programs, Insight, and Developmental Assets. Vanessa has conducted state and national trainings on the above topics, as well as the National Model for School Counselors. As the High School Vice-President for CASC her goal is to serve as a resource and advocate to counselors throughout California.