School Counselor of the Year: Carmen Larson

Carmen Larson, Ph.D., a school counselor at Sarasota Middle School in Sarasota, Fla., is the 2025 School Counselor of the Year^®. She has been a school counselor since 2002. Sarasota Middle School, serves 1,298 students, grades 6–8.

“Her passion for and extensive knowledge in school counseling are remarkable,” said Jennifer Nzeza, Sarasota Middle School principal. “Dr. Larson is calm, centered, possesses strong foundational beliefs and maintains a passion for child advocacy, which guides everything she does. She is articulate, intelligent and keenly able to connect with colleagues, parents and community members.” Read more about Carmen.

What Makes Carmen Tick?

What do you find most rewarding about being a school counselor? 
Watching students overcome obstacles and build their self-confidence is the most rewarding aspect of being a school counselor. I value the relationships I build with students and their families and feel so inspired when I see students realize their potential.  

What brings you joy?
Spaces that are clean and organized. Oh, and watching my daughter dance and my son play hockey.

How do you help students thrive?
Listen. It’s important to listen to students, parents, teachers and administrators. Everyone has a stake in the success of the student, so all perspectives are valued.

What’s the most adrenaline-inducing adventure you’ve ever experienced?
Having front row seats to see Ani DiFranco in Hadestown on Broadway. 

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A dancer and choreographer. I was lucky enough to live out this dream before I became a school counselor.

What’s one bucket-list item you want to accomplish in 2025?
Take my kids to Europe. My daughter is a senior in high school, and she has always dreamed of going to Paris. Before she leaves for college, I want to make that dream come true.

If you were asked to cook a signature dish, what would it be?
My whole family asks me to cook Brussels sprouts frequently. They take a long time to prepare, so I make a bunch at one time. Everyone fights over them, so we have to count them out into equal servings.

What’s a weird fact you know?
When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, it only cost $3.50 for admission into the Magic Kingdom. 

What’s your favorite dessert?
Anything with salted caramel. 

If you could have an unlimited supply of something for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Money – I would travel the world and become a philanthropist to create meaningful change.

How would you describe your job to a 5 year old?
I help kids find their inner superpowers so they can accomplish great things. 

Do you have any hidden talents? What can you do?
I can sew a mean costume. 

What’s the one place in your city you tell visitors not to miss?
The Siesta Key beach and village, as well as St. Armand’s Circle. 

What’s your favorite smell and why?
Gardenias – they remind me of my mother. 

What’s one important skill you think everyone should have?
To make their own decisions.

What could you talk about for 30 minutes with no notes?
This is a hard question because I’m a talker and on any given day I might have a different answer, but at this moment today, I would have to say the art and evolution of school counseling. 

You have your own late-night talk show – who would you invite as your first guest?
This is a toss-up between Michelle Obama and Ani DiFranco. They both represent perseverance, advocacy and girl power. 

How did you get into school counseling? How did you know it was the right path for you?
It was purely by chance. I was happily working as a dance teacher and choreographer at a local performing arts high school. I was interested in pursuing a master’s degree because I wanted a bump in pay from our school district. One day I went to the mailroom at school and found a flyer in my mailbox advertising a traveling scholars’ program at the University of Florida. It was for a master’s in school counseling. I thought it would be a good fit because my dance students always came to me for support, but I never imagined leaving the dance world. I just thought it would enhance my ability to support my dancers. Little did I know that at the university I would meet Dr. Robert Myrick, who would change the trajectory of my career. I remember telling him early on that there was no chance I would leave dance, and he simply said, “Hmmm, OK.” But his passion and knowledge about school counseling just sort of sucked me in. At the time, I had no idea he was one of the greats, one of the founding fathers of modern school counseling, but I quickly learned. It was a blessing to be in his courses and hear him talk about the magic of school counseling. I live by his words, “Take your gains where you can get them,” which means you have to lean into positive student outcomes and build upon them, one little step at a time. Ultimately, he became my mentor, and before I finished the master’s program, he convinced me to pursue a doctorate and become his graduate assistant. And the rest is history.