Dawn Pack was nominated anonymously.
Ms. Pack is passionate about social and emotional learning. She is beginning her 19th year as a school counselor in this district. Ms. Pack has never worked in a building like her current assignment, which is an ALE/ partial homeschool partnership. Due to this partnership, there is a need for outside funding, as many (almost all) resources come from the staff.
Oh my goodness! This is such an incredible honor. Thank you for the kind words. I don't think any of us get into a career in Education for recognition. Or, perhaps the recognition for me is that when I see students in the community they will look me in the eye and say hi, or invite me later in life to their wedding! We all need to be seen, we all need champions, belonging, unconditional positive regard and to feel safe. We are truly all one all one community and we all have a very important purpose in this world. Some days I cannot believe I have been doing this 19 years. Fortunately for educators, learning is a lifelong process and something I thouroughly enjoy. The students and families that I have met over the years have changed my life, and for that, I am forever grateful!
Dawn Pack is a fantastic educator and school counselor. I was fortunate to work with Dawn for four years in the same district, half of that in the same school building. Since meeting her in 2017, I have become close friends with Dawn and have been able to see her never ending heart and love for her family and her community.
When I began my career as a school counselor, Dawn was the first person to open her arms and offer support in whatever way I needed. I am proud that she works in our profession of school counseling, and I am even more proud to call her my friend.
As a school counselor she has maintained relationships with generational families in her community, which takes time, dedication, and commitment to not only her students, but to their families, and her entire community. Recently, she moved to a different school environment in an Alternative Learning Experience setting, and has been integral in creating efficient systems in place in order to spend the majority of her time counseling with students, staff, and parents.
She has previously been honored by her city council because of her work with student leadership mentorship programs, as well as for her mental health and suicide prevention work.
This is a woman who never gives up, and never loses her passion to fight for what is right. If you have ever met or worked with Dawn Pack, your life is better. My life is better because of Dawn. She makes the world a better place, every single day.
