Meet the 2026 MCPS Counselors of the Year
Three staff members have been named 2026 Counselors of the Year. The trio — Laurenne Moreland, counselor at Bethesda Elementary School; Latisha Nelson, counselor at Lakelands Park Middle School, and Stephanie Powell, resource counselor at Wheaton High School — were recognized at the May 21 Board of Education meeting. Read more about them:
Laurenne Moreland
For more than two decades, Laurenne Moreland has dedicated her career to supporting students’ academic success and emotional well-being. A school counselor at Bethesda Elementary School, she brings 21 years of experience, including six with MCPS and 15 in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Moreland is a leader throughout her school community, serving on numerous teams focused on student wellness, instruction and school improvement. Her counseling program is built around three key areas: social-emotional well-being, academic achievement, and college and career readiness. Through engaging lessons, creative activities and family partnerships, she helps students develop confidence, empathy, resilience and problem-solving skills. Her creative classroom includes conflict-resolution escape rooms for fifth graders, first graders using bubbles to teach self-control and physical “peace paths” for third to fifth graders.
Her counseling program is rooted in building safe, welcoming and inclusive environments where students feel valued and supported. When she found that many chronically absent students enroll after the first month of school, she arranged for them to be welcomed with a school counselor lunch bunch and receive a school tour with a classroom Welcome Buddy. She created a comprehensive Social Emotional Learning scope and sequence that incorporates engaging, hands-on lessons focused on empathy, self-control, conflict resolution and growth mindset. She also partners with families through workshops, book clubs and wellness initiatives that strengthen the entire school community.
Fluent in Spanish and French, she works closely with the school’s diverse families and helped establish a partnership with Nourishing Bethesda to address food insecurity. She also leads attendance initiatives, coordinates support programs for new students and manages more than 30 504 plans. Through creativity, compassion and leadership, she consistently removes barriers to learning while empowering students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Latisha Nelson
For more than two decades, this dedicated school counselor has worked to support students’ academic success and emotional well-being. Serving as an 8th grade counselor at Lakelands Park Middle School, she has spent 17 years helping students thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Inspired by her own experiences growing up as the daughter of Afro-Latino immigrant parents, she has made equity and opportunity the foundation of her work. She is committed to removing barriers to student achievement through restorative practices, attendance interventions and strong family partnerships. By conducting home visits, facilitating bilingual parent conferences and creating support systems for students struggling with attendance and engagement, she has helped students reconnect with school and regain confidence in themselves.
Nelson plays a key role in helping students and families navigate the transition to high school, spending countless hours supporting specialty program applications, meeting with families and making sure students understand their options for the future. This year alone, 67 students from the school were invited to participate in high school special programs, including students receiving EML, IEP and 504 services.
She also has been a leader in fostering belonging and student voice. Through affinity groups, wellness initiatives and culturally responsive programming, she has empowered students to advocate for positive change within their school community. She has been a Restorative Approaches Coach, a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team and Student Wellness and Well-being Committee, and a charter sponsor for the Minority Scholars Program. Her compassion, leadership and unwavering commitment continue to make a lasting impact on students, families and colleagues in the Lakelands Park community.
Stephanie Powell
Stephanie Powell has spent the last 25 years as a school counselor serving elementary, middle and high school students. Currently the resource counselor at Wheaton High School, Powell is a compassionate leader who prioritizes student and staff well-being, while fostering a culture of collaboration and support. She believes counseling is about more than solving problems; it is about empowering students to recognize their strengths, build resilience and see their potential.
Throughout her career, Powell has taken on numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Instructional Leadership Team, leading the Student Well-Being Team, mentoring new counselors and supporting districtwide professional development for high school counselors. She also has supported districtwide efforts as a co-instructor for MCPS New Educator Orientation for high school counselors. Colleagues describe her leadership style as calm, collaborative and solutions-oriented.
Following the loss of both a student and a staff member, she helped lead the school’s crisis response efforts, coordinating counseling services and developing comprehensive support plans for students and staff. She also spearheaded monthly schoolwide wellness events focused on relationship-building, communication and student engagement. One initiative, the “Wheaton Amazing Race,” encouraged students to connect with peers and strengthen teamwork skills after data revealed many students felt disconnected from classmates.
A strong advocate for equity and opportunity, Powell works closely with students in Wheaton’s Alternative Learning Outcomes program to ensure they receive personalized academic, social-emotional and postsecondary support. She also collaborates with counselors, college and career staff and community organizations to help students explore future pathways and access resources needed for success.
Powell is also deeply committed to building strong teams and fostering professional growth among colleagues. Whether mentoring counselors, organizing wellness initiatives or guiding staff through schoolwide instructional practices, she consistently leads with empathy, clarity and purpose.