Ami Parker (A.B.Ed. ’93, M.Ed. ’94), a guidance counselor at Highland School of Technology in Gaston County, has been named the 2012 winner of the Ella Stephens Barrett Award from the North Carolina Counseling Association.
Parker, who has worked for Gaston County Schools for 17 years, was given the award at the NCCA’s annual banquet in February.
The award recognizes a NCCA member who has displayed leadership to improve and enhance the counseling profession. Parker has served as president of the NCCA. During her presidency, she worked to bring workshops on ethics to the NCCA members, which include counselors for education, mental health and other areas.
Parker told the Gaston Gazette that she was surprised by the award, saying that she didn’t know she had been nominated.
“I was shocked and very honored to be recognized by my peers,” Parker told the newspaper.