The Maryland School Counselor Association has named Zachary Clark, of Overlea High School, as the 2019 Maryland School Counselor of the Year.
He will be honored at the National School Counseling Week gala on February 8, 2019, at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, and he will be nominated to the American School Counselor Association for the National School Counselor of the Year award.
Clark was recognized for creating and implementing an exemplary comprehensive school counseling program at his school. Reviewers noted that he uses data to inform his practice, advocates for the needs of all students, and continuously and proactively works to improve equity in his school. He was lauded for his contributions to the development of a 6 Year Plan process used systemwide to help students focus on their ambitions and goal setting, and to support them in exploring opportunities, selecting courses, and accessing resources.
Under Clark’s leadership as school counseling department chair, Overlea High has doubled its 4-year college acceptance rate in one school year and achieved a 90% graduation rate.
His efforts in growing the AVID program at Overlea High School have led to the implementation of a course for Grade 9 students, based on the AVID model, called Effective Learning for College and Career Readiness. In addition, Clark is working to bring restorative practices to his school.
In a letter of recommendation, a colleague wrote, “I have never once witnessed him put forth less than everything he has in service to students.”
