Record number of Dallas ISD counseling programs receive state award

A record number of Dallas ISD schools have received a statewide award that recognizes great work happening in school counseling programs.

Twenty-six Dallas ISD schools this month received a Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) Award. The Texas School Counselor Association sponsors the CREST Award, which allows counselors to demonstrate the work they do helping students.

“The CREST Award is about recognizing the success that school counselors have on their campuses,” Dallas ISD Counseling Services Director Dr. Sylvia Lopez said. “We are proud, but not surprised, that a record number of our schools are CREST Award winners this year.”

From guiding students through the college scholarship process to helping students’ social and emotional wellbeing, Lopez said that school counselors play a vital, multifaceted role on their campuses.

The Sunset High School counseling program is among the 26 CREST Award winners this year.

“This award shows that we are serving our community, our students, and our teachers in the best way we can,” said Brenda Ortiz-Rodriguez, a lead counselor at Sunset High School. “We are very proud of the work we do.”