Moments to Cherish; Area native captures national award for dedication to students

Olivia Shell Carter, daughter of John and Patti Shell of Dexter, recently was named 2021 National School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Carter, who graduated from Dexter High School in 2007, is the school counselor at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau.

In reflecting on the year that was 2020, Carter discloses both professional and personal achievements she will cherish and remember proudly.

“Of course, this award is a high point for me professionally,” Carter relates, “but I am also proud that we brought our students back together this fall and were able to establish a sense of normalcy for them after the disruption of last spring.”

News of the award was disclosed in a surprise announcement on Dec. 4.

“I was completely overwhelmed and shocked,” relates Carter, as she recalls the day the unexpected news was revealed at her school. “I had the opportunity to get to know some of the other finalists, and to be amongst them was so humbling.”

Carter says she was caught off guard by the news because the announcement video was played following a scheduled motivational ceremony held for the students and staff.

“After the announcement, the district had arranged for a coffee truck to be outside the building. Our board members, administrators, and central office staff covered the teachers’ classrooms so we could all be together to celebrate. It was really special.”

Carter, who began her college career as a psychology major, says she never pictured herself as a teacher.

“When I chose the field of psychology, I assumed I would enter the industrial/organizational side of psychology,” Carter recounts. “As I moved through the program, though, I found myself drawn to the study of brain development in children and adolescents. That led me to seek out opportunities to be with children.”

Carter reveals it was her involvement in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer program that sparked her interest in school counseling.

“As I got to know these children, I saw the impact schools could make for them and their families,” Carter observes. “Schools really are essential social components of our communities, so school counseling seemed the logical direction to take.”

Carter says the journey toward the ASCA award began in 2019, when her former principals nominated her for Counselor of the Year for the Southeast Missouri Counselor Association. After being named State School Counselor of the Year, the application moved to the national level, and a video component was added to the evaluation process. Once Carter was named a finalist, then personal interviews were held.

“Of course this is a win for me, personally,” Carter reflects, “but this honor highlights the incredible projects at Jefferson and the teamwork that makes them happen.”

Carter says school counselors at the elementary level have the opportunity to impact students’ social, emotional, career and academic development.

“Elementary counselors,” explains Carter, “work within a comprehensive program delivering classroom lessons, creating small groups for different specific skills, and conducting brief, targeted individual counseling for students.”

“Essentially,” she adds, “we work to build relationships with every student in the building, so we can support each student’s needs. My goal is to make sure every student knows that they are safe, loved, and that our school isn’t complete without them.”

Carter’s affection and concern for her students is evident when she speaks of what motivates her every day to get up and go to school.

“The kids are my inspiration,” Carter affirms. “Centering their needs drives me every single day.”

Carter’s family also had many big moments to cherish this year.

She goes on to say, “In my personal life, our family has enjoyed the extra time we’ve had together. It has given us a lot of perspective on what is really important. But the biggest blessing of 2020 is the fact that my daughter had three surgeries and made recovery from each of them look easy.”

Olivia Carter is married to Adam Carter. They have two children, Evan and Addison, and live in Jackson.