Berlin native nominated for counselor of the year

When Tysheka Duffy received the word that she had been selected to as a potential student counselor of the year, she was dumbfounded.

"I was just speechless," Duffy said. "I can't even describe how honored I was."

The annual award, offered by the American School Counselors Association, selects counselors from across the country who perform exemplary work in leadership, advocacy and development of innovative counseling programs.

“School counselors make significant contributions to the overall well‐being of students and their success,” Richard Wong, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, said in a release. “They have unique qualifications and skills that allow them to address students’ academic achievement, career development and social/emotional needs. Through the School Counselor of the Year award, we are able to acknowledge their diligence, commitment and excellence."

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Duffy, a Berlin native and graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, now serves as a student counselor at Kramer Middle School in southeast DC. It was there that her work, working intimately with students and using an approach that utilizes data to optimize her approach, was forwarded to the Association. Impressed by her work, the Association hand picked Duffy to come to the White House, one of 50, out of 31,000 total members across the country.

"I'm dedicated and I take pride in my craft," Duffy said. "I'm passionate about the students. I'm in a situation where I'm working with students often from a lower socio-economic backgrounds, so it can be difficult."

Duffy's hard work was recognized on Wednesday, Jan. 4, when she and several other state representatives for the award were taken to the White House, where they were honored at a black tie gala. Additionally, Duffy was granted the opportunity to attend Michelle Obama's farewell speech.

"It was just such a joyous occasion," Duffy said.

Duffy, with a bachelor's from Hampton University and a Master's from Trinity, attributed her career path as having bloomed from a seed of inspiration planted at Stephen Decatur High School. A homecoming queen, track and field runner, cheerleader and basketball player, Duffy discovered her passion for counseling through the work of the faculty at the Berlin High School.

"I actually worked in the guidance office there, that's where my inspiration came from," Duffy said.

Specifically, Duffy pointed to Stephen Decatur guidance counselor Dennis Montero, along with other counselors at Stephen Decatur, as role models for her future career.

"Mr. Montero, I would say, really inspired me to become a counselor," Duffy said. "I enjoyed watching what they did, and I always wanted to help student."

Duffy said that during her time at Hampton, her drive towards counseling came to fruition, specifically realizing her desire to work with urban students. This passion would eventually lead her to DC.

Ultimately, Duffy did not receive the award of Student Counselor of the Year, with the honor going to Terri Tchorzynski of Calhoun Area Career Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, the nomination alone served as a testament to the quality of her work.

"I'm still just so honored," Duffy said.