Amy Zero, a graduate of Western Illinois University’s Counselor Education program and a school counselor at Rock Island Academy, has been named the Illinois School Counselor Association’s (ISCA) 2024 Illinois K-8 School Counselor of the Year, WIU announced.
Ms. Zero will be honored at the ISCA Conference in November. She was recognized for her exceptional contributions to school counseling, WIU said in a news release. The award highlights her dedication to student well-being and her role in advancing the field through innovative practices.
Ms. Zero has been a key figure in reshaping the school counseling approach in the Rock Island-Milan School District (RIMSD).
Over the past three years, her efforts have led to significant advancements in the district’s counseling programs, which have been acknowledged at the state level.
In 2023, Ms. Zero along with a fellow Rock Island counselor presented their work at the ISCA Conference. It showcased district commitment to pioneering new strategies that better serve students and their families.
This recognition marks the second consecutive year that one of the district’s counselors has been honored by ISCA. Rock Island High School Counselor Julie Churchill was recognized as an Illinois Counselor of the Year Honoree in 2023. Ms. Zero’s award underscores the district’s continued excellence in providing top-tier student support services and highlights the impact of WIU’s Counselor Education program in preparing leaders in the field, the release said.
For more information on WIU’s Counselor Education department, visit wiu.edu/coehs/cnedcsp/.
