Published February 9, 2017 at 3:40 p.m.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools will celebrate National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), from February 6-10, 2017 to focus attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school districts and how KCS students are impacted as a result of what school counselors do.

Kingsport City Schools will be joining all public school districts in America in acknowledging the tremendous effect school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and ensure college and career readiness.

“KCS has an outstanding team of school counselors with a unique combination of training and experience that makes them an integral part of our total education program,” said KCS Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie.  “All of our school counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents.  They work in a partnership with parents to help them face the challenges of raising children in today's world.  They focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and they work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, optimistic aspirations for themselves.”

More than 30,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week's festivities. Many school counselors will be hosting special events and activities to call attention to the myriad benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program.

More information can be found on ASCA's website, www.schoolcounselor.org.

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is a worldwide nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Va. Founded in 1952, ASCA supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development so they not only achieve success in school but are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. The association, which is the school counseling division of the American Counseling Association, provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to more professional school counselors around the globe.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,100 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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