Beard named Counselor of Year

By Sam Waller

Nancy Smith Elementary School counselor Susie Beard has been named Counselor of the Year by the Region 14 Education Service Center.

Beard, in her third year as NSES counselor, has been employed by the Albany ISD for 23 years and involved in education for 31 years. In addition to teaching at Albany Junior/Senior High School, she has also held faculty positions at Clyde and Moran.

Beard, who is married to Albany agriculture teacher Chris Beard, said the honor came as a complete surprise.

“I tell everybody that I don’t do it for the accolades; I do it for kids,” Beard said.

Beard was nominated for the award by NSES principal John Gallagher.

“Susie’s an exceptional school counselor,” Gallagher said. “She meets with students each week to meet their needs and whatever they have going on. She’s implemented a new program that’s focused on character building, from behavior and understanding one another and in conflict resolution. She has done a phenomenal job working with our elementary students, and we are very grateful to have her.”

Region 14 serves 43 school districts ranging from Gustine, Ranger, and Breckenridge to the east, Haskell, Paint Creek, and Rule to the north, Westbrook to the west, and Cross Plains and Rising Star to the south.

“We are very proud for Mrs. Beard to have earned this honor,” Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said. “Along with being recognized amongst other area counselor colleagues during the awards ceremony, her award portrait poster will be displayed at ESC 14 for a calendar year. It’s always nice to see one of our Albany staff members getting recognized on this level.”

Beard said her job includes four delivery components – Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, Individual Planning, and System Support.

“My primary job is to provide character and guidance lessons,” Beard said. “Our goal this year has been building stronger character traits.”

Beard said NSES faculty members recognize students who display a character trait of the month.

“Those students receive a paw for being ‘Pawsitive’ and Purposeful People,” she said. “We announce their names during our announcements, and we recognize them at our awards assembly.”