Piras Honored as Minnesota School Counselor of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Feb. 3, 2025 -- For their impact at Stillwater Area High School, Sydney Piras has been named 2025 Minnesota School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). 

A recognition that brought Piras to the nation's capitol, they represented the state of Minnesota as one of 49 honorees.

Piras began work as a school counselor in 2014, before joining Stillwater Area Public Schools in August 2020. They have a bachelor's degree with a double major in psychology and gender & women's studies and a master's degree in school counseling, all from Minnesota State University. They also hold a master's degree in athletic management from Ohio University. 

"I helped bring together a coalition of school psychologists, nurses, and social workers to pass more than $100 million in student support aid to hire more of us," Piras said. 

As a member of ASCA and the Minnesota School Counselor Association, Piras says seeing students accomplish their goals is the most rewarding part of being a school counselor.

"Whether students set goals to pass 90% of their classes, earn their diplomas, or get into a certain college - I love it all," Piras said.

The recognition came ahead of National School Counseling recognition week, taking place Monday, Feb. 3 through Friday, Feb. 7. 

For more information on the American School Counselor Association and National School Counseling Week by checking out schoolcounselor.org.

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