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Green Bay Area Public School District

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Jackson School Counselor Receives Wisconsin Counselor of the Year

staff members stand around Tammy Van Ess, holding flowers.

Jackson Elementary School Counselor Tammy Van Ess was awarded the 2025 Wisconsin School Counselor of the Year at a surprise school assembly on October 15, 2024.

Three students spoke at the assembly and gave examples of how Van Ess made a difference in their lives.

The Wisconsin School Counselor of the Year award recognizes a school counselor who devotes their career to serving as an advocate for Wisconsin students, addressing their academic, social-emotional, and career development.

Award recipients are determined based on their contributions to the school counseling program, leadership, and service to their community.

Van Ess is best known for her work in creating the Hunger Heroes food pantry at Jackson Elementary. 

The School Counselor of the Year will be recognized in November during the Wisconsin School Counselor Association's annual conference. Van Ess will represent Wisconsin in the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year process and during the American School Counselor of the Year celebration in February of 2026.

Two students clap and celebrate in the Jackson gym.
Students sit on the gym floor and dance and clap.
Students sitting on gym floor clap.
Tammy Van Ess holds flowers and hugs WSCA representative.
Student looks up and smiles while clapping.
Student raises hand while sitting on floor in Jackson gym.
Two students stand at front of the gym and hold papers they are reading for Tammy Van Ess.
Tammy Van Ess and colleague hug and laugh while sitting in chairs.
Student reads a message to Tammy Van Ess in front of the gym.
Tammy hugging student at front of the gym.
Tammy hugging student who shared reading.
Tammy hugging student who read a thank you reading.
Vicki Bayer, Tammy Van Ess and colleague sit in folding chairs in the gym.
Vicki Bayer speaking at podium.
Tammy Van Ess celebrating with students in the gym.
Vicki Bayer addressing Tammy Van Ess (sitting in a folding chair) from the podium.
Staff celebrating and clapping for Tammy Van Ess at the front of the gym.
Tammy Van Ess celebrating with students in the gym.
Tammy Van Ess celebrating with students in the gym in a group hug.
Tammy Van Ess speaking at podium with Vicki Bayer sitting on the right and Principal Gina Cornu-Zacharias on the left
Group photo with Tammy Van Ess on the forth from the left.
Tammy Van Ess celebrating with students in the gym in a group hug.
Tammy Van Ess hugging colleague.
Tammy Van Ess surrounded by colleages.
Tammy Van Ess and family.
Tammy Van Ess with colleagues.
Tammy Van Ess and WSCA representative.