College of Education alum Samara Carranza, MA ‘13, was named Oregon School Counselor of the Year - 2025. This prestigious honor, awarded by the Oregon School Counselor Association, recognizes outstanding impact and leadership among school counselors statewide.
Since earning her master’s degree in school counseling at PSU, Samara has spent the last 14 years as a school counselor — the last eight at Peninsula Elementary in Portland Public Schools. We caught up with Samara to learn more about her journey to school counseling, and what this award means to her.
We couldn’t be more proud of her passion, dedication, leadership and community impact.
What does receiving this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Samara: I always tell people being a school counselor is the best and worst job in school, because you hear the hardest things kids go through, but you also get all the celebrations. So it's nice to have that external validation, but at the same time, I feel like every day when I walk into the building and talk to kids, I get validation there as well.
Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming a school counselor?
Samara: Both my parents are teachers, so I grew up in a double-teacher household. Before becoming a school counselor, I worked in the nonprofit world on a program trying to reach students in schools, but we didn’t have natural access to them. I saw that school counselors have an immediate client base of students, and I recognized that in that position I could really impact mental health on a whole community perspective.
PSU set me up well to deliver a systematic program and gave me a strong systems perspective.
What inspired you to pursue this path, and how did your experience at Portland State shape your career?
Samara: The School Counseling Program through PSU is really well designed. I left with a clear picture of what a comprehensive program looks like, rather than just responding to behavior issues. PSU set me up well to deliver a systematic program and gave me a strong systems perspective.
Now, I’ve supervised interns from several programs, and one of the things I’ve noticed is how much more prepared PSU students are. A big part of that is the clinical experience they get. Not every program offers that, and having a clinic-based foundation has helped me build credibility with staff and parents while ensuring we address mental health, not just behavior.
Peninsula Elementary congratulates Samara Carranza in an Instagram post.
What do you love most about your work with students?
Samara: I thought I wanted to be a middle or high school counselor, but through my internship I discovered the joy of working with elementary schoolers. First of all, I get to have a lot of fun. Much of my program is play based, and I love seeing how kids view the world differently.
I also really like working in elementary school because you’re setting a foundation and giving kids important tools early on. And what’s neat about being a school counselor is how much you can influence the whole community. It’s such a community-based role, building the culture of the school and connecting families. I really enjoy that.
School counselors often play a quiet but powerful role in schools. What do you wish more people understood about the work you do?
Samara: People don’t realize how much I work with all students. I teach lessons in every grade and every class, so there’s a base of information all students receive. I provide general education services, not just support for problem situations.
A big part of my job is prevention — helping kids learn coping tools, conflict resolution and healthy friendships. I think people assume I just meet with kids who are having a hard time. But really, we’re building a different culture from the ground up. It’s a fun job!
It’s such a community-based role, building the culture of the school and connecting families.
This award recognizes excellence in supporting student wellbeing and success. Can you share an example of a program, initiative or approach you’re especially proud of?
Samara: Being at one school for so long, I’ve built a lesson scope that spans all grade levels. What kindergartners learn builds to what fifth graders learn, so there’s consistency and a full package of tools when they leave our school.
Another thing I’m excited about is something the staff started this year. Together, with student and parent input, we came up with six core values for our school. We’re basing assemblies on them, and each month we focus on one value. It’s been a neat shift, helping kids understand why we do things rather than just following rules. Focusing on values, community and integrity really resonates.
What advice would you give to future school counselors or education students at PSU who want to make a difference in their communities?
Samara: Everything feels important when it comes to kids' mental health and well being. But you have to establish boundaries about what a school counselor's role is — and what it isn't — and stick to them. People will ask you to fix everything in the school. You don’t have a magic wand, and the only way to really make change is to have a clear system and clear boundaries. I don't want to burn out after three years. I want this to be my whole career, and sometimes that means saying no.
Carranza will represent Oregon during National School Counseling Week in Washington D.C. this February, joining fellow awardees to advocate for the importance of school counseling. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “PSU set me up for this.”
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Responses have been edited for clarity and length.