Kahla Middle School counselors receive CREST award
Kahla Middle School counselors, from left, Mandi Toumbs, Alexis Trotty and Jessica Zelaya, were named 2025 CREST Award recipients from the Texas School Counselor Association. The award is given to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling to improve lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.
Feb. 24, 2026—Kahla Middle School counselors Mandi Toumbs, Alexis Trotty and Jessica Zelaya were among the elite group of school counselors from across the state to win the 2025 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) award at the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) Conference held Feb. 1-3 in Fort Worth.
The CREST award is sponsored by TSCA and is given to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling to improve lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.
Counselors submitted applications consisting of five comprehensive sections explaining the design and implementation of their campus school counseling programs. Applications are evaluated by members of the TSCA CREST evaluation team and scored according to a detailed rubric.
“Earning the CREST Award is a reflection of the intentional work our counseling team does every day to support every part of our campus,” said Joshua Carroll, Kahla principal. “They take a thoughtful and innovative approach to meeting the needs of our students, staff, and families while building strong connections across our entire school community. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to ensuring Kahla is a place where students and staff want to be every day.”
Kahla Middle School counselors receive CREST award
Kahla Middle School counselors, from left, Mandi Toumbs, Alexis Trotty and Jessica Zelaya, were named 2025 CREST Award recipients from the Texas School Counselor Association. The award is given to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling to improve lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.
Feb. 24, 2026—Kahla Middle School counselors Mandi Toumbs, Alexis Trotty and Jessica Zelaya were among the elite group of school counselors from across the state to win the 2025 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) award at the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) Conference held Feb. 1-3 in Fort Worth.
The CREST award is sponsored by TSCA and is given to schools that have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling to improve lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.
Counselors submitted applications consisting of five comprehensive sections explaining the design and implementation of their campus school counseling programs. Applications are evaluated by members of the TSCA CREST evaluation team and scored according to a detailed rubric.
“Earning the CREST Award is a reflection of the intentional work our counseling team does every day to support every part of our campus,” said Joshua Carroll, Kahla principal. “They take a thoughtful and innovative approach to meeting the needs of our students, staff, and families while building strong connections across our entire school community. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to ensuring Kahla is a place where students and staff want to be every day.”