Smithfield High’s Kristen Luongo Named 2025 School Counselor of the Year
Published on Tuesday, February 04, 2025
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Deputy Commissioner for Instructional Programs Lisa Odom-Villella today joined Rhode Island School Counselor Association (RISCA) representatives and Smithfield community members at a surprise celebration to present the association’s 2025 School Counselor of the Year Award to Kristen Luongo, an educator and school counselor at Smithfield High School (SHS). The celebration took place during National School Counseling Week in Rhode Island, which is observed from February 3-7.
“Congratulations to Kristen Luongo on this well-deserved honor,” said Governor Dan McKee. “The positive impact Kristen has made on her students, colleagues, and the entire Smithfield school community is underscored with this recognition. On behalf of the State of Rhode Island on this National School Counseling Week, we extend our gratitude to Kristen for her dedication to the profession and our children.”
“I’m thrilled to join state and local leaders to celebrate the work and dedication of this year’s School Counselor of the Year, Kristen Luongo,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “It is clear Kristen is a hardworking, highly regarded education professional based on her leadership and collaboration with her peers and students. As we highlight school counselors this week but also CTE programs throughout February, Kristen’s innovative approach to introducing Smithfield students to vocational and trade career opportunities through the Trades Month initiative makes her stand out among her colleagues. I extend my congratulations to Kristen and the Smithfield High School community on this well-deserved recognition.”
“From encouraging students to set academic and career goals to developing the best supports possible for their school community, school counselors play a pivotal role in educational success,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “As a former high school counselor, I am thrilled to highlight Kristen Luongo and her devotion to her students’ success and wellbeing.
A veteran special educator with more than 18 years of experience in the field, Luongo has supported students in Smithfield throughout her career. Described by her peers as a “strong advocate for students” and an “invaluable member of [the] school community,” she has brought her deep knowledge of students’ social-emotional needs and academic skills to her role as a school counselor since joining the high school’s guidance department in 2022.
Luongo’s dedication to supporting her students in many ways has earned her high regard. She is known for working hard to open up doors for children and teens of all abilities and backgrounds, most notably by spearheading the SHS Trades Month initiative, where she helped to build partnerships with the vocational and trades industry partners to introduce career opportunities to students. In addition to this initiative, she is working on the guidance department’s Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation; serves as a co-advisor for the school’s unified club; co-coaches the unified volleyball and basketball teams; served as the advisor for the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) student ambassadors at SHS; and has implemented the Teen Mental Health First Aid curriculum for sophomore students. Luongo is also a member of RISCA and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and was Smithfield High School’s 2019 Teacher of the Year.
“Kristen Luongo is the epitome of what it means to be a School Counselor. Her practice is firmly rooted in the ASCA National Model and she is continually striving to incorporate aspects of the model into her practice to enhance her work,” said RISCA President and 2023 Rhode Island School Counselor of the Year Anne-Marie Flaherty. “Moreover, Krissy has made it her mission to ensure that ALL students at Smithfield High School find their path and have a plan for life after high school. She works tirelessly to promote careers in the skilled trades so that even students who are not interested in attending a four-year college know that they have options after graduation. The career fair that she hosts each year is a model for all schools in Rhode Island to emulate.”
“Kristen’s commitment to students is unmatched,” said SHS Guidance Department Chair Lora DiMuccio. “She is always willing to take on a task and sees it through with determination, ensuring its success. It has been an honor to work alongside Kristen and witness her passion, dedication, diligence, and commitment in action.”
National School Counseling Week, sponsored each year by ASCA, spotlights the critical contributions that school counselors make within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students succeed in both K-12 and postsecondary careers.
State school counselors of the year are invited to Washington, D.C. each year for a celebration of their work and participate in webinars and professional learning virtually during National School Counseling Week.
To learn more about professional learning opportunities, access the School Counselor Resource hub database, or sign up for the monthly school counseling newsletter, visit RIDE’s K-12 School Counseling webpage. To learn more about previous award recipients, visit RISCA’s recognition webpage. Join in on the Rhode Island School Counseling Week celebrations by using the hashtag #RISCW25 on social media.
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