Kristy McLain of Alba Middle School was recently honored as the 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year, and five other Mobile County Public Schools counselors received the Program of Distinction Award from the Alabama School Counselor Association.
Honored with the Program of Distinction Award were Tonya Berryhill of Wilmer Elementary (now assistant principal at McDavid-Jones Elementary), Faith Hammons of Alba Middle (now at E.R. Dickson Elementary), and DaVonte Williams, Mico Lucious and Tiara Cooper of Blount High School. This award recognizes counselors for their commitment to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program.
The awards were presented at the ASCA’s Critical Issues Conference held at the University of Montevallo on October 2. As the Alabama School Counselor of the Year, McLain will be Alabama’s nominee for American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year. She is the third MCPSS counselor to receive this statewide honor in the past four years.
McLain said the award is “an incredible honor” and thanked her family and others who have encouraged and supported her in her work.
“Personally, it is meaningful to know that the work I do each day to support students, families, and my school community has been recognized,” she said. “Professionally, this recognition is a reminder of the importance of the school counseling role and the impact we can have on students. It also gives me an opportunity to share what I have learned with other school counselors and encourage those who are beginning their careers. I hope to use this recognition to continue advocating for students, supporting other school counselors, and helping highlight the important work we do every day.”
An ASCA Certified Counselor, McLain has served in that role in MCPSS schools for 10 years, working at E.R. Dickson, Meadowlake and St. Elmo elementary schools before joining the staff at Alba this year. Among the initiatives she has implemented over the years are mentoring programs and community partnerships for a Blessing in a Backpack food insecurity program and a Birthday Box program that ensures every student has the opportunity to celebrate their birthday.
A favorite accomplishment was helping a student who had been picked on at school turn that experience into an opportunity to educate his peers and raise awareness about cleft lip and cleft palate. They ultimately created a fundraiser for Children’s of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham to support children in need of corrective surgeries for these conditions.
“I want every student I work with to understand that they are more than a grade, a test score, or a behavior incident,” she said. “They are individuals with unique strengths, experiences, challenges, and potential. I believe every child can grow and succeed, even when their path looks different from someone else's. Sometimes, what a student needs most is someone who believes in them, helps them see what they may not yet see in themselves, and reminds them that they do not have to navigate life's challenges alone.”
Alba Middle School Principal Jeremy McGuff said McLain, who has worked in education for 17 years, has been a wonderful addition to the school.
“Ms. McLain does an outstanding job here at Alba Middle School, and we truly appreciate all she does for our students, faculty, and staff,” Alba Principal Jeremy McGuff said. “She consistently demonstrates a student-centered approach in everything she does. Her dedication and commitment to our students are evident, and I am excited to see all the great things she will accomplish over the next few months and throughout the remainder of the school year. We are fortunate to have her as part of our Alba Shark family!”