Orange County school counseling professionals gather during the California Association of School Counselors’ 25th anniversary conference and awards ceremony in Riverside on Oct. 15. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Randelle Kirkemo)
Quick look: From Chapman University to Santa Ana schools, Orange County counseling leaders were celebrated for their innovation and impact at the state’s largest professional association for school counselors.
School counseling professionals from across Orange County were honored for their leadership and contributions to the field during the California Association of School Counselors’ 25th anniversary conference and awards ceremony, held Oct. 15 at the Riverside Convention Center.
Organized by the state’s largest professional association for school counselors, also known as CASC, the annual event recognized educators, graduate students and district representatives for advancing student success, promoting equity and strengthening comprehensive counseling programs across California.
Dr. Randelle Kirkemo of Chapman University stands with Dr. Jami Parsons, OCDE’s executive director of Systemic Leadership and Continuous Improvement, at the California Association of School Counselors’ 25th anniversary conference.
Among this year’s honorees was Dr. Randelle Kirkemo, assistant director of the school counseling program at Chapman University, who was named the 2026 CASC Counselor Educator of the Year. Known to students and colleagues as “Dr. K,” she was celebrated for her leadership, mentorship and innovation in counselor education.
At Chapman, Kirkemo helped develop coursework focused on ethics, mental health and the California Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, preparing future counselors to effectively meet the diverse needs of students. She has also partnered with the Orange County Department of Education to create professional development opportunities that strengthen California MTSS implementation and support new school counselors across the county.
Also recognized was Greenville Fundamental School in the Santa Ana Unified School District, whose school counseling team — Kenya Sanchez-Alvarado, Genoveva Torres and Fedelia Suleiman-Santos — received the Exemplary School Counseling Program of the Year award. The team was honored for implementing a comprehensive counseling program that promotes academic growth, inclusion and overall student well-being.
Two other local campuses, Las Flores K-8 School in the Capistrano Unified School District and Madison Elementary School in the Santa Ana Unified School District, were honored as Recognized ASCA Model Program Schools for demonstrating excellence in comprehensive, data-informed counseling programs.
Dr. Rebecca Pianta of Santa Ana Unified was additionally highlighted for her leadership and service within her district, statewide through CASC and nationally with the American School Counselor Association.
For more information about the California Association of School Counselors, schoolcounselor-ca.org.