Plano West Senior High School’s counseling team has been named a Lone Star Award bronze winner by the Lone Star State School Counselor Association.
The Lone Star Award recognizes effective and outstanding school counseling programs in Texas. It honors comprehensive counseling programs that are data-driven, developmentally appropriate and delivered to all students with the goal of improving student outcomes, closing achievement and opportunity gaps and preparing students for post-secondary success.
The award recognizes school counseling departments through a three-level system: bronze, silver and gold awards. Each level includes increased rigor designed to elevate school counselor programs to national recognition through The American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model Program awards. Schools receiving the LSSSCA bronze, silver or gold award demonstrated outstanding comprehensive counseling programs that were data-driven, focused on goal completion and aligned to the ASCA National Model.
Ten areas are evaluated:
Vision and mission statement, annual student outcome goals, classroom and group mindsets and behaviors action plan, annual administrative conference, advisory council, calendars, lesson plans, classroom instruction results report, small-group results report, and closing-the-gap action plan/results report.
Each application was judged according to a rubric assigned to the national ASCA RAMP award.
The Plano West Senior High counseling department consists of Tracy Eubanks, lead counselor; Stacy Jones; Delinda Dudley; Linda Taylor; Rhonda Morgan; Jami Emanuel; Leigh Ann Field; Yahaira Rodriguez; Patricia Capelan; and Ann Eaglin.
“This honor highlights their passion, creativity and commitment to serving every student with excellence,” said Plano ISD Director of Counseling Laura Zimmer. “Their work embodies the very best of comprehensive, data-driven counseling; helping students grow academically, emotionally and beyond. What an incredible reflection of the heart and spirit of Plano ISD.”
Plano West’s counseling department will be recognized at the 2025 LSSSCA annual conference Nov. 2-4, with an awards gala Nov. 3 at the Embassy Suites and Frisco Convention Center.