It was no ordinary day for Dr. Brianna Patterson of Jean Ribault High School. In what unfolded like an impromptu pep rally, Dr. Patterson was honored with the title of Florida School Counselor of the Year in a surprise announcement at a scheduled meeting. "I feel so overwhelmed with the most positive emotions," Dr. Patterson expressed to the assembled crowd, which included members from the Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA), supportive school staff, and her family, as per Duval County Public Schools' release.
The distinction was awarded to Dr. Patterson by the FSCA, who cited her role in achieving significant student outcomes such as a 90% retention rate in the school’s Early College Program and an increase in scholarship awards from $13 million to $18 million. Her work has also led to the doubling the number of students eligible for dual enrollment. These achievements underscore a year of triumph for Jean Ribault High School, following both an upgrade to an A grade and the beginning of their year on a new campus.
Dr. Patterson's recognition was more than a token gesture to school officials. Dr. Gregory Bostic, the school's principal, emphasized the importance of school counselors in their students' lives. "I’m so excited for Dr. Patterson. School counselors are a vital role in our students’ lives –– from academic to social and even some of the challenges that they bring," Dr. Bostic conveyed in a Duval County Public Schools' announcement. The acknowledgment also felt personal for Dr. Patterson who not only works but thrived here as valedictorian in 2011.
Having served as a counselor at her alma mater for five years, Dr. Patterson's contributions stand out as more than just a career but as a commitment to her community. This award entitles her to celebrate at the FSCA Convention in November, and also means she's now a contender for the American School Counselor Association's National School Counselor of the Year.
