Alba Middle School’s Kristy McLain Named 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year; Five More Mobile County Counselors Honored

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — Kristy McLain of Alba Middle School has been named the 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year, and five other Mobile County Public Schools counselors have received the Program of Distinction Award from the Alabama School Counselor Association.

As Alabama’s School Counselor of the Year, McLain will be the state’s nominee for the American School Counselor Association’s national School Counselor of the Year award. She is the third MCPSS counselor to receive the statewide honor in the past four years.

The awards were presented Oct. 2 at the association’s Critical Issues Conference at the University of Montevallo.

Program of Distinction honorees

The Program of Distinction Award recognizes counselors for their commitment to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. This year’s Mobile County honorees are:

• Tonya Berryhill of Wilmer Elementary, now assistant principal at McDavid-Jones Elementary
• Faith Hammons of Alba Middle, now at E.R. Dickson Elementary
• DaVonte Williams of Blount High School
• Mico Lucious of Blount High School
• Tiara Cooper of Blount High School

Data-driven counseling programs use information such as attendance, behavior, grades and student surveys to identify needs, set goals and measure whether interventions are working. The approach reflects national standards that treat school counseling as a planned program serving every student, rather than a service offered only in a crisis.

‘An incredible honor’

McLain called the recognition “an incredible honor” and thanked her family and others who have encouraged and supported her work.

“Personally, it is meaningful to know that the work I do each day to support students, families, and my school community has been recognized,” she said. “Professionally, this recognition is a reminder of the importance of the school counseling role and the impact we can have on students. It also gives me an opportunity to share what I have learned with other school counselors and encourage those who are beginning their careers. I hope to use this recognition to continue advocating for students, supporting other school counselors, and helping highlight the important work we do every day.”

A decade of counseling in Mobile County schools

McLain is an ASCA Certified Counselor and has worked as a school counselor in MCPSS for 10 years. She served at E.R. Dickson, Meadowlake and St. Elmo elementary schools before joining the staff at Alba Middle School, in Bayou La Batre, this year. She has worked in education for 17 years.

Over the years, McLain has started mentoring programs and built community partnerships for two efforts aimed at meeting students’ basic needs:

• Blessing in a Backpack, a food insecurity program that sends children home with food for the weekend
• Birthday Box, a program that ensures every student has the chance to celebrate a birthday

Turning hurt into advocacy

One of McLain’s favorite accomplishments involved a student who had been picked on at school. She helped him turn that experience into an opportunity to educate his classmates and raise awareness about cleft lip and cleft palate, conditions that occur when a baby’s lip or the roof of the mouth does not form completely during pregnancy and that are often corrected with surgery.

Together, they created a fundraiser for Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham to support children who need corrective surgeries for those conditions.

“I want every student I work with to understand that they are more than a grade, a test score, or a behavior incident,” McLain said. “They are individuals with unique strengths, experiences, challenges, and potential. I believe every child can grow and succeed, even when their path looks different from someone else’s. Sometimes, what a student needs most is someone who believes in them, helps them see what they may not yet see in themselves, and reminds them that they do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone.”

Principal: ‘We are fortunate to have her’

Alba Middle School Principal Jeremy McGuff said McLain has been a wonderful addition to the school.

“Ms. McLain does an outstanding job here at Alba Middle School, and we truly appreciate all she does for our students, faculty, and staff,” McGuff said. “She consistently demonstrates a student-centered approach in everything she does. Her dedication and commitment to our students are evident, and I am excited to see all the great things she will accomplish over the next few months and throughout the remainder of the school year. We are fortunate to have her as part of our Alba Shark family!”

Why school counselors matter

School counselors help students with academic planning, career exploration and social and emotional development. They also connect students and families with resources inside and outside of school. National organizations have long recommended a ratio of about one counselor for every 250 students, though many schools across the country serve far more students per counselor.

For Mobile County Public Schools, the state’s largest school district by enrollment, having three state counselors of the year in four years reflects the work of counselors across the system’s schools.

Key facts

• Honoree: Kristy McLain, Alba Middle School
• Award: 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year, Alabama School Counselor Association
• Next step: Alabama’s nominee for the American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year
• Program of Distinction winners: Tonya Berryhill, Faith Hammons, DaVonte Williams, Mico Lucious and Tiara Cooper
• Presented: Oct. 2, Critical Issues Conference, University of Montevallo