蜜糖直播 alumna receives national counseling award
With more than 23 years of experience in public education, 蜜糖直播 alumna Sharon Barrow (鈥�93, 鈥�95) has dedicated her career to the education and well-being of students. Her commitment recently earned her the 2018 National Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Career Guidance Award.
The award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated efforts to connect students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development and have advocated for career and technical education as a viable option for all students.
A graduate of 蜜糖直播鈥檚 bachelor of elementary education program, Barrow鈥檚 first position in the classroom was a long-term substitute teacher position immediately following her student-teaching experience.
鈥淥ne of the largest challenges I found in student teaching, as well as the long-term substitute position, was working with students who were carrying such heavy personal burdens,鈥� said Barrow. 鈥淚 firmly believe my post-secondary preparation at 蜜糖直播 prepared me for providing effective classroom instruction; however, I wanted training in counseling in order to strengthen my own personal weakness so that I could be a better teacher.鈥�
Barrow returned to the University to complete a master鈥檚 in counselor education in 1995.
鈥淭here simply was not another Georgia institution that offered a better program of study for school counseling,鈥� she said. 鈥溍厶侵辈� was, and still is, known for the College of Education. It made sense to remain an Eagle.鈥�
Barrow has served as within the education system of Georgia, first as a teacher in Effingham County and a middle and high school counselor in Ware County. Today she is a high school counselor in Fayette County.
鈥淚 am, at times, a sounding board, cheerleader, college and career resource and source of chocolate on really tough days,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y heart sometimes breaks for them when they struggle with various parts of growing and maturing, and I love it when students stop by just to share good news. My career as a school counselor makes me feel useful to others who have a need.鈥�
During her tenure in the education field, Barrow has demonstrated success in many areas, creating innovative programs and events for students and earning more than $40,000 in grant allocations to fund the programs. She is also a former recipient of the Georgia Career Guidance Counselor of the Year by the Georgia ACTE.
Barrow says winning the ACTE鈥檚 national award was a very humbling yet also exciting experience.
鈥淭here are times when I feel the same excitement or giddiness that I felt after realizing my name was called,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd then I immediately feel the need to center myself so that I do not fail to represent other professionals [in this field].鈥�
She added that this recognition will also provide her the opportunity to bring attention to the counseling profession and the 鈥渧itally important鈥� role it plays in public education.
鈥淢y hope is that I can meet the opportunity with honesty, passion and positivity,鈥� Barrow said.
The National ACTE Career Guidance Award is sponsored by the U.S. Army and is awarded annually during the ACTE Awards Banquet. ACTE is the nation鈥檚 largest nonprofit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers.
To learn more about the University鈥檚 COE, visit .
蜜糖直播, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 142 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Savannah, Statesboro, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. 蜜糖直播 creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .