Tricia Dallas, Chautauqua County Counselors Association president and Frewsburg Jr/Sr High School counselor, is pictured with Crystal Casel, Chautauqua County Counselors Association Counselor of the Year recipient.

The Chautauqua County Counselors Association recently announced its award winner for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Crystal Casel, a school counselor at Jefferson Middle School in Jamestown, was named the Robert Minton Counselor of the Year as voted on by the members of the Chautauqua County Counselors Association.

“This award has been created to annually recognize a member of the Chautauqua County Counselors Association for their hard work, outstanding contributions and inspirational service that embody the professional and personal characteristics of Mr. Robert Minton, a local school counseling legend who dedicated over 30 years as a school counselor in Chautauqua County” said Tricia Dallas, CCCA president. “As a recipient of this award, one is being acknowledged for their work, their kindness and their bright spirit. We hope that in recognizing the countless efforts and dedication to the students and community, that the legacy of Mr. Minton will carry on through those who follow in his footsteps and continue to pave the way in creating positive change and spreading kindness into the world.”

As a counselor at Jefferson Middle School, Casel is described as being a champion for her students. Staff at Jefferson Middle School said Casel has a way of making others feel comfortable, heard, and valued which expands not just to her students, but to her co-workers as well.

Crystal worked as a clinical specialist through New Directions Youth and Family Services from 2009-2020, a school counselor for an E2CCB program at Brocton school from 2020-2022, and has been a middle school counselor at Jefferson Middle School since 2022.

“Crystal has always been driven to make a difference,” said Dallas, who has worked with Casel in other capacities. “She has been an absolute rock for some of the most challenging students and has truly changed the lives of many through her years of working in this field.”

The Chautauqua County Counselors Association is a professional organization of school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, representing 19 Chautauqua County school districts along with a few representatives from local higher education institutions.

For more information about the CCCA or to make a donation to support the scholarship fund, contact Dallas at tdallas@frewsburgcsd.org.