MEDIA CONTACT: Sherry Thomas
561-297-2328, sthomas@fau.edu
BOCA RATON, FL (December 18, 2007) – Florida Atlantic University counselor education graduate Ana Maria Leon was awarded the Florida Elementary School Counselor of the Year award recently at the Florida Counseling Association conference in Daytona Beach. Leon graduated from FAU’s Department of Counselor Education with a master’s degree in school counseling. She has been an elementary school counselor for six years and is currently at FAU working toward her Ph.D. in counselor education.
“Ms. Leon is one of the most impressive school counselors I have seen in my 15 years as a counselor educator,” said Greg Brigman, coordinator of the school counseling program at FAU. “She not only has developed an outstanding, comprehensive school counseling program at Wilton Manors Elementary in Broward County, but has also developed a school-wide program called ‘Passport to Peace’ that is getting national and international attention.”
According to teachers at Wilton Manors, Passport to Peace is having a positive impact on the climate of the school and the academic success of students. Behavioral referrals have dropped 80 percent, while 75 percent of the students participating in the program increased their FCAT scores and were at or above grade level.
Leon also conducts parent education programs in conjunction with the Hanley Center using the “Roots and Wings” program. This program gives parents and other caregivers skills needed to help children avoid alcohol, nicotine and drug use, as well as other risky behaviors. Leon combines Roots and Wings with her Passport to Peace program for a program that is being taught in six elementary school serving 200 families. The program, which will be taught in English, Spanish and Creole, is projected to reach 900 families this year using teachers she has trained.
In addition to presenting her successful program at state, national and international conferences, Leon is currently conducting potentially groundbreaking research on the impact of a Spanish translation of the Student Success Skills program developed by FAU counselor education faculty, which has been shown to improve student achievement and behavior, and increase FCAT scores.
“I have seen Ms. Leon work with students individually, in small groups and in classroom, and she is without a doubt one of the best school counselors in communicating with students k-5 and instilling in students positive attitudes and motivation to excel. The fact that she has also created programs that extend her impact to schools throughout the state and beyond is truly impressive,” said Dr. Linda Webb, assistant professor with the department of counselor education at FAU.
-FAU-
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts ten colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
