The Pohakea Elementary School counselor honored for creativity, leadership
Posted: February 8, 2022
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) named Nicole Blomberg 2022 Hawaii School Counselor of the Year, the Hawaii State Department of Education announced Monday. The ASCA School Counselor of the Year award recognizes counseling professionals in elementary, middle, and high schools across the nation.
Blomberg, a counselor at Pohakea Elementary in Ewa Beach since 2006, was honored based on her devotion to the academic and career success of her students. She’s credited with developing innovative programs and exhibiting leadership skills that contribute to her students’ social-emotional well-being.
Pohakea Elementary Principal Corey Barton said Blomberg “embodies—models—a kindness that carries in our school community. It begins with her.”
Blomberg was nominated for her ability to connect with students and their families, especially during challenging pandemic times. She started a monthly Virtual Read Aloud Book Nook using a multimodal teaching method called bibliocounseling, which uses books, music, and other media to foster growth and facilitate problem-solving.
One of her proudest contributions to her school is her development of the Check and Connect program, which pairs students with a trusted adult mentor on campus. Mentors check in daily with their students and help them with creating monthly goals for individualized guidance. Blomberg said that the program “creates a positive relationship with these students to make coming to school feel safe.”
Just ahead of National School Counseling Week, which spans from Feb. 7—11, Blomgberg attended the 2022 School Counselor of the Year ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 3, where she and others from around the country were celebrated for their outstanding achievements.
Congratulations Nicole!