Danielle Crankfield, a school counselor at Crofton High School and the Maryland School Counselor of the Year, is now one of five finalists for the National School Counselor of the Year honor.
The honor, bestowed by the American School Counselor Association, will be announced later this fall.
“It is an honor to be named a 2026 ASCA School Counselor of the Year Finalist,” Crankfield said. “School counseling is not only my profession; it is my purpose. I am elated to be included in a phenomenal group of school counselors that put students first and advance this profession."
Crankfield, who is a National Board Certified Counselor, has served students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools since 2010, and has been at Crofton High School since it opened in 2020. She was named Maryland School Counselor of the Year in February.
The other finalists are:
· Leka Anitema of Maui High School in Kahului, Hawaii
· Annie Goldberg, ACSC, of Broadview Middle School in Burlington, N.C.
· Lydia T. Larimore of Neabsco Elementary School in Woodbridge, Va.
· Summer Royale Whittington of Ernest Gallet Elementary School in Youngsville, La.
“ASCA’s School Counselor of the Year program shines a valuable spotlight on the school counseling profession, bringing attention to exceptional school counselors who are supporting K–12 students every day,” said Jill Cook, CAE, ASCA executive director. “School counselors are vital to students’ academic achievement, social/emotional development and plans for life after graduation. The 2026 finalists have demonstrated their commitment to the mission of the profession to help each and every student succeed.”
The School Counselor of the Year Selection Committee includes principals, school counselors and representatives from education-related organizations.