The purpose of the Counselor of the Year Award is to recognize a school counselor,
college admissions representative, or college counselor for outstanding service and
achievement in their field within the past year.
There were wonderful nominations submitted for the award and it is difficult to choose.
However, with the notion, being “Counselor of “This Year”, one nominee clearly shone.
CDCA Executive Board is happy to announce Deb Zeh, counselor at Bethlehem High
School and Lab School as the 2022 Counselor of the Year
Deborah Zeh has been a counselor for more than 20 years between Mechanicville and
Bethlehem High School. She is a dynamic personality who is constantly an advocate for
students, equity in education and social justice. She serves as a mentor for counseling
interns and continues to serve our profession well.
The Counselor of the Year possesses four (more) foundations of excellence in our
counseling profession
Leadership
Program development
Collaboration
Contribution to the profession

On Leadership – One Colleague wrote, “Her Smile, Laugh and Enthusiastic
Attitude are contagious. Her office is a busy place that provides a welcoming and safe
environment for all students. Every morning, I have the honor of working in the office
next door. She is passionate about social justice, equity and education. She’s
approachable and has rational demeanor.”

Program development (or adaptation)- “Her approach to the Pandemic was creative
and she continued to explore new strategies to connect with students including Creative
SEL lessons, Google Classroom with Bitmojis and virtual Naviance information
sessions. She continued to make the the student’s transition to high school a priority,
even as the world was transitioning as well.”
Collaboration and Contribution to the profession.
As another colleague wrote, “She is Cchampion for all high school students and an
activist for students with special needs. In additional to her love of counseling and
serving as a leader, her superpower is educating and preparing Counseling Interns for
the profession.

All of Deb’s recommendations were filled with words like advocating, responding,
listening, asking, listening some more, team player, empathic, mentor, mentoring and
mentor some more and on more than one occasion friend – “Friend to the students,
colleagues and future colleagues”
As one recommender wrote, “She is a Shining Star” and we believe this too.

It is also wonderful to recognize that Dr. Lisa Carr, one of Deb’s colleagues and
recommenders, was the first recipient of the CDCA Counselor of the Year 10 years ago
in 2013.