Karen Pearson didn’t plan on being a school counselor, but she sure is good at it.

Pearson, who works at Stephen Foster Elementary School, has been named the Florida Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Florida School Counselors Association. It’s the second year in a row that the honor has gone to an Alachua County teacher. Mary Ann Smith of the Anchor School won the award last year.

“I almost didn’t send in the application because I was sure they wouldn’t select someone from Alachua County again,” said Pearson. “I’m glad now I did. The professional recognition from my peers is really nice.”

Although she came from a family of educators--her mom was a long-time elementary school teacher--Karen didn’t expect to become a teacher herself. She took a job teaching special education following her graduation from college until she could decide exactly what she wanted to do with her life. But she found she enjoyed talking with her students and was impressed by the counselors she met at her school. So she became a counselor herself, and has now been at it for more than ten years.

“This was not my plan, but it certainly is my love,” she said. “I would not change it for anything.”

“She’s one of the finest counselors I’ve every worked with,” said principal Darla Boyd. “She gives of herself tirelessly and is totally dedicated to her job and the school community.”

Pearson’s days are extremely busy. She conducts small group counseling sessions with students who need help dealing with divorce, grief, anger and other issues. She counsels individual students, including those facing crisis situations. She’s responsible for ensuring that all exceptional students get the special services they need. Pearson is also in Foster’s classrooms every day, talking with students about everything from career awareness to getting along with others.

“One of the most important messages I try to get across to kids is that learning how to get along with many different types of people in many different situations is going to help them be successful in life,” she said.

Pearson’s job isn’t always easy. Many of the children come to school with significant challenges that affect their education, and often parents aren’t involved. Pearson says it’s her job to work around those obstacles.

“My number one client is my student,” said Pearson. “I advocate for the kids. Whatever resources they have or don’t have, I want to do everything I can to see that they’re happy and successful at school.”

Much of what Pearson does for her students isn’t listed on her job description. She coordinates the school’s Citizen of the Month program, Red Ribbon Week, Hope for the Holidays, canned food drives, and many other activities. She has won grants that allow students to participate in hands-on career activities. She’s also served in several leadership positions with the Alachua County Counseling Association, including president, and has helped her colleagues in the area become better counselors.

“She’s dedicated to her students and to her counseling peers,” said Norton Elementary School counselor Jennifer Taylor, who nominated Pearson for district counselor of the year. “She’s always willing to assist and support other counselors in their work.”

Ultimately, however, Pearson says her first love is working with the students. She says she knows she’s done a good job when students tell her that she made a difference in their lives.

“I really like what I do, because I touch so many different kinds of kids every single day,” she said.