Simpson Central School has received the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation during a special ceremony at the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference in New Orleans, La. The school was honored on July 11 for making an exemplary commitment to comprehensive school counseling programs.

The RAMP designation, awarded to schools that align with the criteria set in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. More than 600 schools have been designated as RAMP since the program’s inception in 2003.

Jill Cook, ASCA assistant director and RAMP coordinator, said recipients are to be commended for their dedication to serving all students and demonstrating how effective school counseling programs can make a difference in students’ lives.

“ RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the school counseling profession,” Cook said. “This designation distinguishes these schools and encourages school counselors nationwide to continue to strive for excellence.”

RAMP applications are reviewed once a year by a panel of school counseling professionals from across the nation who assess a school counseling program in 12 different areas of program expertise. Simpson Central School is only the 3rd school in the state of Mississippi to earn the RAMP designation and only the 4th K-8 school counseling program in the nation to earn the honor since the first RAMP recipients were awarded in 2004.

Simpson Central School recently recognized students of the month for Self-Discipline. They are First Row (L-R) Vhaun Beckham, Colby Bennett, Kennedi McLaurin, Lee Ridgeway, Isabella Maldonado, Connor Woodard, Rylee Rainey, Kaidyn White, Taylar Graves, Keigan Hanna, Reece Neely; SECOND ROW (L-R) Lauryn McRaney, Taniya Reed, Aby Allen, Haley Welch, Sam Welch, Kerra Ghassemi, Ruth Hazlewood, Andrew Hofler; BACK ROW (L-R) Colin Seal, Bryan D'Avy, Kaleigh Ghassemi, Auden Henderson, Raegan Bramlett, Ah'Myia Mahaffey.

Staff Member of the Month for Self-Discipline is Katina Gardner and Teach of the Month for Self-Discipline is Karen Rhodes.