LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A Lake Worth school counselor received a very high honor on Friday.
Megen Stair from Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth was selected as Florida's School Counselor of the Year by the Florida School Counselors Association.
Palm Beach County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donald Fennoy, as well as several of Stair's students and family members, surprised her on Friday by breaking the exciting news to her.
"For eight years she's been doing amazing work with students in our district," said Dr. Fennoy. "And in this day and age, with everything we're dealing with, this is the epitome of the work we want to see in all of our schools."
Stair has been a school counselor for the past eight years, and is the Counseling Advisory Council Chairperson at the school.
"I am so blessed to be a school counselor," said Stair. "I have the opportunity to work with students to help them reach their full potential and prepare them to become independent members of our global community."
The Palm Beach County School District said Stair developed a core curriculum for freshmen to help them understand graduation requirements, strategies for high school success, and college and career readiness.
She also identifies students with low GPAs in their freshman year, and works with them to ensure they receive tutoring to keep them on track for graduation, the School District said.
"She has set a very high bar as to what a school counselor should be and continues to elevate it daily," said Park Vista student Kai Garel. "I can't thank her enough."
"If I could grant one wish to my principal colleagues, it would be to bless them with a staff of counselors identical to Megen Stair," said Park Vista principal Reginald Myers. "Her enthusiasm, her innovativeness and her genuine concern for the students is contagious."