Whether it be the teachers who help mold the young minds, the security who do what they can to keep us safe, or the counselors who do what they can to make sure their students are supported and are on the path of success West Morris Central is filled with an amazing staff. A certain guidance counselor at WMC recently won the Governor’s Educator of the Year. This Educational Professional award highlights just how important she is in our community. That counselor is Ms. Hennessy.
Ms. Hennessy has been working here since 2020 and has loved every second of it. She states, “There’s no better feeling just seeing your students who you’ve worked with, just like pursuing their passions and doing things that are meaningful, that for them, and just finding their own individual paths.”
When Ms. Hennessy found out she was going to win this award, she was shocked to say the least., “ I was sitting in the faculty meeting, and they started reading about a school counselor” stated Ms. Hennessy. “I heard that much, and then I started hearing about a swim coach and reach and I was like, Oh, this sounds familiar. This sounds kind of oddly familiar. I had no idea coming into the faculty meeting […] I think it was very obvious that I was very shocked to get the award.”
While working at WMC, Ms. Hennessy believes she has become more involved in school life. Not only is she a guidance counselor, but also a swim coach, a Reach advisor, and now she’s in charge of the sophomore student council., “ Getting involved in the school community is so valuable, just because of all the people that I meet, you know, whether it be adults or students, I just kind of got out of my comfort zone and just got involved in things that are important to me” stated Ms. Hennessy.
Ms. Hennessy proves everyday that she is a good counselor, but she feels she really owes all of her success to the students. “. I just know that high school has its challenges, but I just admire my students so much for all their all they do,” stated Ms. Hennessy. “They not only have a full class schedule with a full workload, but so many of my students work part time jobs and are involved in all these extracurricular activities which are unique and special to them, I’m proud of my students for being able to balance everything that’s important to them on top of being a student”.
Ms. Hennessy definitely deserves to be name Educator Professional of the year and really helps make WMC a special place.
