Reviewed by: Ella Walton
Alba Middle’s Kristy McLain named 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year
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Kristy McLain of Alba Middle School was named the 2026 Alabama School Counselor of the Year, and five other Mobile County Public Schools counselors received the Program of Distinction Award from the Alabama School Counselor Association.
McLain named Alabama School Counselor of the Year
The Alabama School Counselor Association presented the awards at its Critical Issues Conference at the University of Montevallo on Oct. 2. McLain will now be Alabama’s nominee for the American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year.
She is the third MCPSS counselor to receive the statewide honor in the past four years.
McLain has worked in education for 17 years and spent 10 of them as a counselor in MCPSS schools, including E.R. Dickson, Meadowlake and St. Elmo elementary schools, before joining Alba this year.
Alba Middle School Principal Jeremy McGuff said McLain has been a strong fit for the school:
“She consistently demonstrates a student-centered approach in everything she does.”
Jeremy McGuff, principal of Alba Middle School
Her initiatives include mentoring programs and community partnerships for Blessing in a Backpack and a Birthday Box program that ensures every student can celebrate their birthday.
She said the recognition is a chance to advocate for students and support other counselors:
“Professionally, this recognition is a reminder of the importance of the school counseling role and the impact we can have on students.”
Kristy McLain, Alba Middle School counselor
Program of Distinction Award winners from Mobile County
The Program of Distinction Award recognizes counselors for delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. MCPSS winners were:
- Tonya Berryhill, Wilmer Elementary (now assistant principal at McDavid-Jones Elementary)
- Faith Hammons, Alba Middle (now at E.R. Dickson Elementary)
- DaVonte Williams, Blount High School
- Mico Lucious, Blount High School
- Tiara Cooper, Blount High School
