WMCA names Kelly Larcheveque 2025 Counselor of the Year

This year, the 2025 Western Massachusetts Counselors Association’s (WMCA) School Counselor of the Year hails from ARHS, Kelly Larcheveque.

Principal Talib Sadiq said he was impressed by her winning the award. In a letter to all ARHS faculty and staff, he wrote, “Congratulations to our very own Kelly Larcheveque. We all know how thoughtful and dedicated you are to our students, their families, and your colleagues. It’s great that WMCA has formally recognized your hard work and commitment to our community.”

Winning this award means Larcheveque will be in the running for the Massachusetts School Counselor’s Association (MASCA) School Counselor of the Year Award. 

Larcheveque said she is humbled by the award and feels like she is a mostly “behind the scenes person.”

“It makes me smile that someone nominated me,” she said, noting that she has mixed emotions. “I don’t like to be in the spotlight. I like to be more hidden and [do my work].”

She said that the best part of being a counselor is “having one-on-one interactions with students. “I want students to know that we see their accomplishments and to know that they are valued,” she said.

Larcheveque said that after four years with some of the students on her caseload, she feels like she really knows the students. She feels especially close to the class of 2025. “They have impacted me by sharing their stories no matter how difficult,” she said, noting their honesty helps her understand and reflect on how people feel.

She also said that sometimes talking to people one-on-one “is joyful” and allows for that personal conversation. 

One thing she appreciates is “sitting with someone and problem-solving.” She often tells students that there are “many different ways to do school.”

And of course, sometimes, “it’s less of what I would tell them and more what I would ask them,” or trying to figure out how “we can do things differently.”

She says high school can be difficult and poses different challenges. “I experienced this in high school,” she said. Now, she spends many of her days helping other people “with [what they] need to finish high school.”

She said she didn’t expect this award. “I had no idea I was nominated, I was in complete shock”.  This shows Larcheveque’s passion for being a counselor and only priority is helping people out. 

What would she say to other counselors? Larcheveque said that it’s critical to acknowledge students’ accomplishments. “If I have a student that I know did something positive then it is good to let other people know,” she said.