Q&A with MUSD’s School Counselor of the Year
In honor of National School Counseling Week, we asked our School Counselor of the Year, Lisa Wilson, some questions to gain insight into the role counselors play in student achievement across MUSD.
Every first week of February, school districts across the country celebrate National School Counseling Week. An event organized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
ASCA's theme for this year's recognition week is “School Counselors Amplify Student Success.” To explore this topic, our Community Relations and Engagement team sat down with none other than the 2026 School Counselor of the Year!
Lisa Wilson is in her 21st year as a school counselor, and 2026 marks her 10th year at Lathrop High School. As part of Manteca Unified’s 2026 Employee of the Year recognition program, Lisa was nominated by her school administrators and colleagues as School Counselor of the Year— and ultimately received the recognition from the program committee.
In this Q&A interview with Lisa, learn more about the role counselors play in student achievement across Manteca Unified.
Q: How do you support students in meeting grade-level standards while also balancing their social-emotional needs?
A: Academic success can’t happen if a student is struggling emotionally. Before grades can improve, students need to be present—both physically and mentally.
As counselors, our role is to support students where they are and remove any obstacles that stand in the way of their success.
Q: What should students be doing in their junior year to prepare for college?
A: Junior year is when students really need to start thinking more intentionally about what comes after high school, while also maintaining strong grades to stay on track for graduation and A–G eligibility. Classes get harder, expectations increase, and consistency matters.
This is also the time to explore options—visiting campuses when possible, attending the college visits we host, and learning about different programs. We bring in colleges, as well as CTE and trade schools, so students can see there are many paths to reach their goals.
A lot of students have a dream school in mind without realizing it may not even offer what they want to study—junior year is the time to ask those questions and do the research.
Q: How do you collaborate with teachers and administrators to help students?
A: I have an open-door policy, so teachers, administrators, and even support staff know they can come in here and ask me for help. At times, there can be a line outside the door, and that can be overwhelming sometimes, but it is nice to know that on campus, people know they can come and talk to me.
Q: How can students and families better get in touch with counselors?
A: At Lathrop, we use Teams to chat with students, and it’s been hugely effective. It allows us to reach students where they are. They’re used to texting, so being able to connect with their Counselor in a similar way makes communication easier and more accessible.
For families, email is usually the best way to reach us. Counselors are often in and out of their offices, meeting with students, so we aren’t always at our desks or near a phone to answer or return calls right away. Email allows us to check messages between appointments and respond more quickly.
We welcome phone calls and will always return them; however, it may not be the fastest way to get a response all the time.
Q: What don’t students know about the resources that counseling offices offer?
A: A lot of students don’t realize just how many resources the Counseling Office offers—or how easy they are to access. We share information in several ways, including our Counseling Instagram and LinkTree, where everything is in one place.
We also use grade-level Teams groups to share important updates. Every grade level has a general channel, and seniors also have a dedicated Financial Aid and Scholarship channel. Those Teams groups follow students all four years, so the information is always right there. Students just have to check Teams—and families should keep an eye on their email.
Q: What is a piece of advice you could give to other counselors?
A: Remember why you got into this work. The days are long, the to-do list never ends, and it’s easy to feel the weight of everything that still needs to get done. The school year moves fast, and there’s never enough time for everything. Staying grounded in your purpose and giving yourself grace is what keeps you going.
Q: What does the School Counselor of the Year recognition mean to you?
A: After 21 years of doing this work… (Lisa gets emotional with this response.) I don’t want to cry, but I’m going to! After 21 years of doing this work, it means a lot that my work is respected and recognized by my administrators and other staff. It’s been very special to know that this work is seen as important and that it’s being recognized by those around me.