Campuses all over the country are recognizing the unique contributions of professional school counselors during National School Counseling Week, which started today and continues through Feb. 11 Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the week-long tribute was established to spotlight the tremendous work these men and women do to promote academic success – and help students plan their future careers. “Day after day, our outstanding counselors are engaging with students in meaningful ways and helping them to realize their true potentials,” said IUSD Superintendent Gwen Gross. “We could not be more proud of this talented group of educators, who make a profound impact on our schools and our district.” Public school counselors are certified educators with master's degrees in guidance and counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of each district's educational program. "School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, personal and social skills, and career awareness in post-secondary options,” said ASCA President Brian Law. “Comprehensive school counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators." For more information about National School Counseling Week, check out ASCA's Web site at www.schoolcounselor.org.