Honor Dana Pierce Achievement

2017 School Counselor of the Year Ceremony WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor and recognize those dedicated professionals, who strive to enhance the quality of education for our students, and whose character, accomplishments and community contributions inspire all citizens of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dana Pierce upon the occasion of being selected as a New York State Representative at the American School Counselor Association's 2017 School Counselor of the Year Ceremony, which was held at the White House on January 6, 2017; and WHEREAS, During the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) Counselor of the Year Ceremony, Dana Pierce was one of 50 school counselors nationwide honored by former First Lady Michelle Obama for her notable contributions to the field; and WHEREAS, Dana Pierce was invited to participate in this year's White House celebration because in 2015, she was named New York State's Counselor of the Year by the New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA); and WHEREAS, Dana Pierce, originally from Pennsylvania, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University in 1989; she later went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Counseling Services from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego; and WHEREAS, Dana Pierce then acquired New York State Certifications as an alcoholism and substance abuse counselor and as a licensed mental health counselor from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the New York Education Department Office of the Professions; and WHEREAS, Upon earning her undergraduate degree, Dana Pierce worked as a chemical dependency counselor at Commonwealth Place in Syracuse, New York; in this role, Dana facilitated all aspects of treating chemically-dependent adolescents and adults in a residential setting and designed and facilitated education, discussion, therapy, and experiential groups; and WHEREAS, Subsequently, Dana Pierce worked as a technical specialist in the Division of Student Services at her alma mater, SUNY Oswego, where she helped develop an Alcohol and Drug Prevention Education class as part of an institutional response to substance-related referrals; and WHEREAS, For the past 22 years, Dana Pierce has served in her current role as a School Counselor at Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, working in all aspects of the field including academic advising, scheduling, vocation and post-secondary exploration and planning for approximately 250 students in grades 9 through 12; and WHEREAS, As a knowledgeable and highly skilled counselor, Dana Pierce has improved the quality of education at Fayetteville-Manlius High School by leading and supporting staff with enthusiasm, cultivating a positive and stimulating school environment for her students, and creating a greater sense of community; and WHEREAS, In addition to her counseling responsibilities, Dana Pierce has been involved with numerous committees including: the OCM BOCES Youth Development Roundtable Planning Committee; University at Buffalo's School Counselor Advisory Council; Canisius College's Syracuse Counselor Advisory Council; SUNY Oswego Counseling Services Program Faculty Advisory Board; and the Onondaga Mental Health Association's Advisory Board to Anorexia/Bulimia Support; and WHEREAS, Additionally, Dana Pierce has been a School Counselor Representative for the Fayetteville-Manlius Safe, Smart, & Sober program - a partnership between Fayetteville-Manlius High School and the community; and WHEREAS, Dana Pierce has held membership in various professional associations, including: American School Counselor Association (ASCA); New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA); and the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC); and WHEREAS, In recognition of her hard work and professional achievements, the New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA) selected Dana Pierce as a 2015 New York Counselor of the Year and was honored at the NYSSCA annual conference in Lake George on November 20,

2015; and WHEREAS, For her outstanding efforts over the years, Dana Pierce has received numerous other accolades, including: the Fayetteville-Manlius High School "Giraffe Award" and SUNY Oswego's Dr. Donald Snygg Graduate Scholarship Award; she was also named the Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital Health Program's 1993 "Speaker of the Year" for her community outreach efforts; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Dana Pierce upon the occasion of being selected as a New York State Representative at the 2017 School Counselor of the Year Ceremony; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dana Pierce.