She did not have a school counselor. That is why Dr. Trish Hatch decided to become one.
Hatch has dedicated her career to advocate for students, to make sure students have well-trained counselors and preparing future counselors who would help students achieve their academic potential.
Her commitment and dedication were recently recognized by the California Association of School Counselors which bestowed upon Hatch the 2016 Counselor Educator of the Year, the first award presented to an educator in the field of school counseling. The California Association of School Counselors gives awards to individuals who have been instrumental in the field of school counseling. They are nominated by their peers and chosen by an independent panel.
“I was super excited, honored and humbled especially because so many of the recommendations came from SDSU alumni,” said Hatch, a professor in the School Counseling Program in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology (CSP). “I had no idea I had been nominated for this award - it was a total surprise!”
Jovianne Pereyra, a 2013 graduate of the College of Education’s Department of Counseling and School Psychology, was one of Hatch’s former students who wrote a nomination letter.
“Trish’s energy, passion, and dedication to supporting the school counseling profession was experienced by all her students and colleagues,” said Pereyra, who is now an elementary school counselor in the Cajon Valley Union School District. “Trish felt that it wasn’t enough for her students to be well-trained, competent, school counselors; she believed that school counselors also needed to be leaders, advocates and agents of change.”
Danielle Duarte echoed similar sentiments regarding her experience with Hatch.
“I am grateful to have learned from such a passionate advocate for the profession of school counseling, and I believe her work as an educator has advanced the profession of school counseling to new heights,” said Duarte, a 2009 graduate and now an adjunct faculty in CSP at San Diego State University. “As her former student, Dr. Hatch pushed my cohort and me to become skilled school counselors, ready to advocate for the profession of school counseling and the students we serve.”
Hatch said the award will help cement her commitment to students and future student counselors.
“School counseling is personal to me. I didn't have a school counselor and I sure could've used one,” said Hatch, who spends her summers “self-care” painting in Greece. “Since it's the inaugural award, I also feel a great amount of responsibility to give back and to support future school counselor educators in any way I can moving forward.”