Oct. 9, 2026 – Team Duval is taking the national stage! Dr. Brianna Patterson, a school counselor at Jean Ribault High School, has been named one of just five finalists nationwide for the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) 2027 School Counselor of the Year, placing her among the nation’s top school counseling professionals.

The exciting announcement came as a surprise to Dr. Patterson during a recent school counselors’ meeting at Ware Works, giving colleagues the opportunity to celebrate this incredible recognition together.The honor follows Dr. Patterson’s selection as Florida School Counselor of the Year in 2025 and highlights her extraordinary commitment to helping students succeed academically and prepare for life beyond graduation.

A proud Jean Ribault alumna and the school’s 2011 valedictorian, Dr. Patterson has made a lasting impact on the same community that helped shape her. Under her leadership, Jean Ribault’s Early College Program achieved a 90% retention rate, the number of students eligible for dual enrollment doubled, and scholarship awards increased from $13 million to $18 million.

ASCA’s School Counselor of the Year program, now in its 20th year, recognizes outstanding professionals who support students’ academic achievement, social-emotional development, and plans after graduation. The 2027 School Counselor of the Year will be announced in late fall, with finalists celebrated in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28, 2027.

Here is a full list of this year's finalists:

• Ana Celia Báez, South Division High School, Milwaukee, Wis.

• Diego Castro, ACSC, Herbert Hoover Middle School, Merced, Calif.

• Diana Chandra, ACSC, Camp Hill Middle School, Camp Hill, Pa.

• Brianna C. Patterson, Ph.D., Jean Ribault High School, Jacksonville, Fla.

• Shayla M. Thompson, Alton C. Crews Middle School, Lawrenceville, Ga.