WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Kathy Welch, a school counselor at York’s Coastal Ridge Elementary School, for being named Maine’s representative to the nationwide School Counselor of the Year Program held in Washington. The program, which is organized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), honors counselors around the country who run high-quality, comprehensive school counseling programs at either the elementary, middle or high school level.
 
“Kathy’s dedicated service as a school counselor has helped to build an enriched and accessible learning environment for the children at Coastal Ridge Elementary,” Senators Collins and King said. “We are honored to join with the American School Counselor Association to recognize Kathy for her hard work and dedication to her students.”
 
The School Counselor of the Year Awards are presented in conjunction with National School Counseling Week 2016, which is celebrated from February 1^st to February 5^th. The designees will meet with their members of Congress, tour Washington, and visit the White House for a reception with First Lady Michelle Obama.
 
Last year, Coastal Ridge Elementary earned recognition from the U.S. Department of Education as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. Only 335 schools across the nation were recognized for this achievement. In November, Mrs. Welch joined with other teachers and administrators from Coastal Ridge Elementary to come to Washington and accept the award.
 
Photo 1: Senator Collins congratulates Kathy Welch, Maine’s representative at the School Counselor of the Year Program.
 
Photo 2: Senator King congratulates Kathy Welch, Maine’s representative at the School Counselor of the Year Program

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