Former Poplar Bluffian Matthew Berry is one of five finalists for the National School Counselor of the Year award, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association.
Berry will fly Nov. 7-8 to Washington, D.C., for an interview and should learn early in December whether or not he will be named the ASCA School Counselor of the Year.
A ceremony in February will recognize the national and the state winners across the United States.
Berry recently was honored as the Missouri School Counselor Association Middle School Counselor of the Year and Missouri State School Counselor of the Year.
School Counselor of the Year officials explain, they “honor the best of the best - counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle or high school level.”
Berry works for the Ritenour School District in St. Louis County.
While MSCA officials praise him, Berry shared he grew up with excellent and effective educators in his life.
“I attended elementary school at Eugene Field Elementary and loved everything about it,” Berry said. “Rosemary Overbey was very inspirational in my life. She was my teacher in first grade and I can recall her dragging me to class because I didn’t want to leave my mother with my newborn brother.
They developed such a great relationship, Overbey contacted Berry to be in her fifth grade class after he moved to the Kinyon school area.
Advancing to Poplar Bluff Junior High School, “Mr. (Bill) Clanahan taught me so much more than math. His ability to relate and to bring laughter to learning is something that has benefited me in my work with students today.
At PBHS, Jo Turner and Evelyn Jones helped create a family environment in choir.
“Upon graduation in 1993, I went to TRCC on a scholarship for music in hopes to go into education and to be a teacher. Instead, I graduated with a bachelor’s from Missouri State University in recreation and leisure studies,” he said.
After graduating college, Berry worked in recreation for Godfrey Parks & Recreation and at At-Risk Youth Outreach Programs in Albany, New York, and Springfield, Missouri.
“These experiences, with my role as a youth at-risk case manager in St. Louis, prompted me to go into school counseling, where I graduated from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis,” he said.
Ritenour Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride said, Berry “reflects the very best of what school counselors need to be for students and families.”
“As an extraordinary advocate for our students and families, Mr. Berry brings the best of social-emotional learning to the forefront of everything he does,” said Kilbride. “He goes above and beyond to build strong relationships with students and help them recognize the tools they have within themselves to build resiliency and reach their goals.”
Berry is known for his tireless efforts that go well outside the school day to connect with students, which have included home visits, small support groups and opportunities for families to build stronger relationships with their children, Kilbride said.
At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, Berry transitioned from Ritenour Middle School to lead Husky Academy, which serves at-risk youth in grades 5-12 in a non-traditional school setting. Husky is located in Overland, Missouri.
In addition to his roles in Ritenour and as the Missouri Counselor of the Year, Berry has been a leader among his counseling colleagues throughout the region and state. He has served as the chair of the board of directors for the MSCA for the last two years and is past president of the St. Louis Suburban School Counselor Association (SLSSCA). In January 2020, Berry earned accolades as the Middle School Counselor of the Year by SLSSCA.
Berry was presented with a $1,000 scholarship by Dr. Shari Sevier, director of advocacy for the MSCA. The funds will be used to help Ritenour Academy students succeed both academically and socially.
“Matthew is truly a rock star in the world of school counseling,” Sevier told the board. “As a result of his hard work, time and dedication and leadership within our organization, we are so proud to recognize and honor him with this scholarship.”
Kilbride said, “We are incredibly proud of Mr. Berry. He is a true advocate for our students and goes above and beyond to connect our families with the resources they need, especially during the difficult times we have been through during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is highly deserving of this honor.”