Guam Legislature honors school counselors during National School Counseling Week

Senator Vince Borja opened a brief ceremony at the People’s House on Feb. 2 to mark National School Counseling Week, presenting a certificate of recognition and thanking counselors from Guam’s public, private and charter schools for their work on students’ academic and social-emotional needs.

"This year's theme is 'School counselors amplify student success,'" Borja said, noting counselors’ behind-the-scenes advocacy and care. He described the event’s consolidation of private- and public-school honorees into one ceremony because of high attendance and offered a personal perspective: his wife, Naomi Borja, is a Price Elementary School counselor, and he recounted an emotional incident that underscored the job’s burdens.

The Department of Education was represented at the ceremony. A DOE official, identified in remarks as "Miss Jackie," conveyed the superintendent’s appreciation: "Counselors, you matter. Never get tired," she said, and thanked senators for recognizing counselors’ service. Senators in attendance echoed praise and described counselors as "guardian angels" for students facing home instability or danger.

Speakers at the session highlighted several workforce concerns raised during the remarks. Senator Borja said private-school counselors often perform multiple roles — including duties similar to a nurse or aide — and do not have the same collective bargaining protections or pay as their public-school counterparts. He also said some public counselors are short-staffed and must cover halls and classrooms after incidents, describing the work as emotionally demanding.

A certificate read aloud at the ceremony commended counselors for "comprehensive academic counseling, social and emotional support services, career and postsecondary readiness, guidance and student advocacy" and formally recognized National School Counseling Week from Feb. 2 to Feb. 6, 2026. The certificate text listed signatories and attestation including Speaker Frank Blas Jr., Vice Speaker Anthony Atta, legislative secretary Sabrina Salas Matanani, and named Senator Vince Borja as sponsor and chair of the education committee.

Senator Borja called dozens of counselors forward by name to receive the certificate, representing elementary, middle, high school, charter and private institutions across the island. The presentation concluded with a group photo and closing thanks from Borja.

The event was ceremonial: no motions or formal votes were taken and no policy actions were announced during the recognition. The session focused on public acknowledgment and on reiterating the ongoing operational challenges schools and counselors face, particularly staffing and role breadth in private settings.