Matzke Elementary School was announced as a 2024 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas award winner by the Texas School Counselor Association. Matzke counselors Dr. Janis Roberson, left, and Elizabeth Ross, right, will receive the official award and banner during the annual Texas School Counselor Association conference on Feb. 2.

Jan. 9, 2025—Matzke Elementary School counselors Dr. Janis Roberson and Elizabeth Ross were among the elite group of school counselors from across the state to win the 2024 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) award.

CREST is sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) and awarded to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling to improve lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of a counseling team that earned the CREST award,” Ross said. “I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to serve the CFISD community and to be recognized for the programs and work we do is truly humbling. We are truly blessed to get to provide our counseling program to the students, staff and families of Matzke Elementary.”

Counselors submitted applications consisting of five comprehensive sections explaining the design and implementation of their campus school counseling programs. Applications are evaluated by members of the TSCA CREST evaluation team and scored according to a detailed rubric.

“I feel both honored and blessed to receive this award, not only for our campus but for the entire district,” Dr. Roberson said. “There are so many other counselors in CFISD who have awesome administrators, staff and community partners who know the importance of school counselors and support what we do. This award celebrates all of us!”

CREST winners will receive their official award and banner during the annual TSCA conference on Feb. 2 at the Galveston Convention Center. Dr. Roberson will also present on at the conference on Feb. 4.