Mallory Jacobs, a school counselor at Whitson Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, was recognized as the School Counselor of the Year at the 2023 Kansas Counseling Association (KCA) and Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) Counseling Conference. 

This year’s KCA and KSCA Counseling Conference took place March 9-10 in Topeka. The 2023 keynote speakers were Dr. Edil Torres Rivera, an educational consultant with expertise in multiracial dynamics and conflict, and Houston Kraft, professional speaker, author and curriculum director. 

“What a great KCA/KSCA spring conference,” said Kent Reed, a climate and wellness program manager for school counseling at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). “The conference committee knocked it out of the park with wonderful presenters and well-deserving recognitions. I was absolutely thrilled to see the diversity, both demographically and professionally. We had a good number of social workers, psychologists, counselor educators, students and mental health professionals attend this year.” 

Jacobs joined KSDE’s Career, Standards and Assessment Services (CSAS) team as a counselor leader consultant in December 2022. She previously served as a school counselor for Centre USD 397 in Lost Springs. 

Jacobs received her master’s in counseling from Kansas State University. 

She also was recently awarded the Topeka USD 501 Distinguished Staff Award. 

Jacobs was first notified about receiving the School Counselor of the Year award in December 2022. 

“I was teaching my counseling lesson in a fifth-grade class, and the district team came in celebrating,” she said. “What a fun surprise! It was the icing on the cake that the kids were there to celebrate, too. They are why I do what I do. What a great year so far!”