The Pell City High School (PCHS) Counseling Program received notification recently that it will be receiving the Bronze RAVE award for exceptional counseling programs in Alabama.

RAVE stands for Recognition of Accountability, Verification and Excellence. This award is based on national counseling standards and evaluates the entire counseling program.

The application was completed and submitted by PCHS College and Career Counselor Amy Smith. Smith said she first heard about the program while attending the 2015 Alabama Counseling Convention in Montgomery.

“Cindy Davis, the presenter, was so inspirational in her presentation, I knew immediately that it was something I wanted to go through with,” Smith said. “When I received the email on Tuesday, I just started screaming I was so excited.”

When Smith first mentioned wanting to make a submission for the award, she brought the topic up with her supervisor Pell City School System Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Kim Williams who supported the idea.

According to Smith, the application took about six months to complete and the process involved stringent guidelines used to complete the accountability aspects, as well as a significant amount of data collection and graphic design in reporting the data. Smith said she spent many sleepless nights writing and revising the application.

This award evaluates the counseling programs in the areas of academic achievement, college and career development and personal and social development. It gives programs a chance to showcase accomplishments and evaluate future goals.

Smith said she was impressed by the quality of the counseling program at PCHS when she started in July 2015. According to Smith, all three counselors and the registrar, Rhonda Veazey, have specific strengths and skills sets. Smith said that Jennifer Moses, who is the 11th and 12th grade counselor, and Merrill Friday, the 9th and 10th grade counselor, are two of the most competent counselors in the field.

The four agree they work well together in an effort to meet the needs of their students. They believe that none of this would have been possible without the help of supportive board members, superintendent, central office staff, principal and faculty and staff members.

“Instead of finding reasons why I can’t do something, they are always right there to provide assistance,” Smith said.

The application was evaluated by a team at the state level and scored on a rubric. The counselors, PCHS Principal Dr. Tony Dowdy and Superintendent Dr. Michael Barber will be presented with a trophy at a luncheon at the annual Alabama Counseling Association Convention in November.