Local school counselors earn recognition
Parkman, Lowe named 2023 Regional Counselors of the Year
By THE TIMES NEWS STAFF
news@theeveningtimes.com
Two Crittenden County school counselors were recently presented awards by the Northeast Region of the Arkansas School Counselors Association
Parkman Secondary Counselor of the Year
By Andy Weld, MSD Marion High School’s Pam Parkman has been named Secondary School Counselor of the Year by the Northeast Region of the Arkansas School Counselors Association.
The organization made the announcement last week. As a result of winning the award, Parkman will now have the opportunity to represent northeast Arkansas at the state conference this summer and be considered for Arkansas Secondary Counselor of the Year and the overall School Counselor of the Year for the entire state.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Ms. Parkman for earning this recognition,” said Dr. Mike Skelton, Marion High School principal. “She works hard every day to help our students _nd success on whatever path they choose. She is a true asset to our students and our school, and this award is incredibly well-deserved.”
Parkman was selected for the award after being nominated by a fellow counselor and then voted on by other counselors in the Northeast Region. The voting is a “blind” process, where voters only see each nominee’s resume – all names and references to a particular school are removed.
Parkman said she is honored to be recognized, noting the hard work the counseling team does to serve students.
“We work hard to get students on the right paths that will lead them to success as college students, as technical
See RECOGNITION, page A2
Pam Parkman, Marion High School Counselor, was recently named Secondary School Counselor of the Year by the Northeast Region of the Arkansas School Counselors Association.
Photo by Andy Weld
Bragg Elementary School Counselor Shavon Lowe gets a high-five from one of the hundreds of youngsters to whom she offers guidance each day at the West Memphis school.
Photo courtesy of WMSD RECOGNITION
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program students, or as employees in the workforce,” Parkman said. “We help them prepare to be good community people, good parents, and lead successful lives. When our kids leave high school, we want them to be successful, well-rounded, and community-minded.”
Parkman who was also recognized as Elementary School Counselor of the Year in 2017, came to the Marion School District in 2011, originally serving at Marion Intermediate School. In 2017, she moved over to the high school, where she has served ever since.
“My favorite part of being a counselor is the live, faceto- face interactions I get to have with students,” Parkman said. “I love it when kids walk in here and talk about what’s going on with their day.”
Parkman was also quick to give credit to the other school counselors at MHS, Melissa Kohl and Jonnett Gammill.
“I couldn’t do anything without them. They’re awesome,” she said. “And our administrators are great – they make it easy to be school counselors here.”
Lowe Elementary Counselor of the Year
Bragg Elementary School’s Shavon Lowe is this year’s Northeast Arkansas Elementary School Counselor of the year!
“We are excited to have Shavon as one of our local members and a strong representative of what a school counselor truly does for our students, staff, school district, and community,” said Christopher Hicks, ArSCA Northeast Region President in announcing the West Memphis counselor’s recognition.
“I’m so honored. I’m so excited,” said Lowe, who was nominated by a fellow counselor from outside the West Memphis School District, Jessica Jefferson.
“Just to even be nominated is huge,” said Lowe, “because counselors, not just speaking for myself, we do so much that people don’t see. These students are my ‘reason why’ – I am so determined to help them. It weighs on our hearts.”
Award or no award, Lowe is dedicated to the students she serves at Bragg Elementary.
“I taught kindergarten for 12 years and I absolutely loved it,” she said. “But being a counselor… it takes on a totally different… assignment. I feel like it’s an assignment from God. Being a counselor is the most rewarding – and the most heart-tugging field ever. These kids need someone to be an advocate for them, to collaborate with parents for them. I’m just so honored and excited and it just makes me want to be ‘Super Counselor’ now.” Lowe will represent the Northeast Region at the State Conference this summer. Her recognition as the regional winner means Lowe is also up for Arkansas Elementary Counselor of the Year, as well as the overall 2023 Counselor of the year for the entire state.
For more information on the Marion School District, visit www.msd3.org. For more information on the West Memphis School District, visit www.wmsd.net.
