Handley and Quarles Are Model Programs for School Counseling
John Handley High School Counselors (L-R): Chyanna Jones, Elizabeth Cranford, Natosha Fradillada, Sara Shoemaker, Vanessa Brewster
Two Winchester City schools have received national recognition through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). After an intensive application process, ASCA awarded Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation to John Handley High School and Garland R. Quarles Elementary School.
The RAMP designation recognizes schools that are committed to delivering an exemplary school counseling program. Honorees are awarded for aligning their program with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, a framework for a data-informed school counseling program. Research findings indicate that comprehensive school counseling programs are associated with a range of positive outcomes in student achievement, discipline, and attendance.
Dr. Silvia Restivo, Student Services Coordinator and champion of the RAMP process for WPS, describes it as a way to ensure more deliberate practices:
“ASCA’s National Model helps us to continue doing all of the important and positive things happening in school counseling offices but to do them with more intentionality. By using data-informed decision-making, implementing better systems, and using future-focused curriculum, we are setting our students up for positive outcomes.”
Implementing ASCA standards and obtaining RAMP designation is part of the Empower 2025 Strategic Plan for Winchester Public Schools (WPS). Two additional schools - Frederick Douglass Elementary School and Daniel Morgan Middle School - are in the process of working with a RAMP Coach and plan to apply for RAMP designation next year. The remaining three WPS schools are in the initial phase of becoming RAMP schools.
Dr. Bryan Pearce-Gonzales, Chair of the School Board, serves on the ASCA Advisory Council:
“I participated in the Empower 2025 Strategic Plan process, and I am impressed with the hard work the School Counselors put in to bring this goal to fruition. They dedicated countless hours to ensure their programs are top-notch and provide the best possible outcomes for students. Their hard work to earn this prestigious designation strengthens WPS and will be a huge service to our students for years to come. ”
As Dr. Pearce-Gonzales notes, RAMP designation would not have been possible without the School Counselors at Handley and Quarles. Their dedication is unmatched, and WPS extends gratitude for all they have done:
Garland R. Quarles Elementary School: Sara Shoemaker
John Handley High School: Natosha Fradillada, Elizabeth Cranford, Sara Shoemaker, Chyanna Jones, and Vanessa Brewster
Sara Shoemaker led the RAMP process at Quarles before transitioning to a new School Counselor role at Handley. “I was proud to complete the RAMP process for Quarles and leave it in a good place,” she said. “It has been a wonderful transition to Handley where I know I am working with a team of School Counselors who are similarly aligned in their practices.”
Handley and Quarles will retain their RAMP designation for five years, after which they may reapply.
About the American School Counselor Association
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) professional organization based in Alexandria, Va. ASCA promotes student success by expanding the image and influence of school counseling through leadership, advocacy, collaboration and systemic change. ASCA helps school counselors guide their students toward academic achievement, career planning and social/emotional development to help today’s students become tomorrow’s productive, contributing members of society. Founded in 1952, ASCA has a network of 50 state and territory associations and a membership of approximately 43,000 school counseling professionals. For additional information on ASCA, visit www.schoolcounselor.org.
Written By: Maggie McCampbell Lien, Public Information Officer
January 31, 2025
