The Pennsylvania School Counselor Association has named Nicole Sayre, a guidance counselor at Northley Middle School in the Penn-Delco School District, the 2016 Pennsylvania Middle School Counselor of the Year.

The award honors professional school counselors who have helped both their students and their school district. This includes developing and implementing comprehensive counseling programs based on the American School Counselor Association’s National Model.

Sayre, who was nominated by the Aston school’s principal, L.J. Blair, passed the rigorous selection criteria with flying colors. This involved the submission of an extensive application together with five essay questions, a video submission, and recommendation letters from colleagues and students.

“Nicole’s leadership is seen throughout the building on multiple levels,” said Blair.

Sayre, who was recognized earlier this year by the Pennsylvania School Counselor Association in Hershey, will also be welcomed to the White House by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, in January, as a state level School Counselor of the Year.

“It’s such an honor to have been selected as the Pennsylvania School Counselor of the Year,” said Sayre, adding that she is very “humbled by this recognition.”