Type Of Business:
School District
Expertise:
Mr. Sumerel's expertise includes student support services and career development.
Major Product/SVS:
Secondary Education
Favorite Business Publication:
School Counselor; Industry-Related Publications
Hobbies/Sports:
Going to the Beach, Reading, Spending Time with his Wife and Two Children
Education Degrees:
Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Clemson University (2007); Bachelor of Business Administration, University of South Carolina (1992)
Affiliations Awards:
South Carolina School Counselor Association; Southeastern Employment and Training Association, Inc.; American School Counselor Association; American Counseling Association
Place of Birth:
Lawton, OK
Industry:
Academic Advisement
State/Country of Origin:
USA
Children's Names:
Elizabeth, Donald
Date of Distinction:
5/9/2007
Work History:
Job Specialist, Jobs for South Carolina Graduates, Chesnee High School, Spartanburg School District Two (2005-2007); Customer Service Manager, Retention Specialist, Upstate Workforce Investment Board, Upstate One-Stop Career Center, Spartanburg County, SC (2005); Retention Specialist, Job Developer (2004-2005); General Manager, Putt-Putt Golf and Games (1992-2005); Workforce Specialist (2003-2004); Job Coordinator, University of South Carolina Upstate Achieve Program (2000-2003); School-to-Work Coordinator, Boiling Springs High School, Spartanburg School District Two (1996-2000); Facilitator, Leadership Training
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Mr. Sumerel's ability to listen to students' individual situations and goals separates him from his peers.
How would you like to be remembered by your peers?:
Mr. Sumerel would like to be remembered by his peers as a person who truly enjoyed each day of his profession and gave everything he had to assist those who came to him.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
If he could solve one problem in the world today, Mr. Sumerel would eliminate global hunger.
Expanded Biography:
Mr. Sumerel has counseled high school students for 13 years. He currently works as a job specialist counseling at-risk students in a high school setting in the South Carolina graduate program. In fact, he played an instrumental role in implementing the graduate program. Over the course of the four-year program, he utilizes a classroom setting to teach employability, workplace and life skills. In addition, he works with students individually to cover academic, personal and social problems as they come about in their lives. He also offers academic assistance tools for students and parents to use while working with teachers for academic success inside and outside of the classroom. Mr. Sumerel assists other members of the counseling staff with testing, classroom guidance and student registration. He also promotes the academic success of the school and offers administrative assistance with regard to school operations.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The most gratifying aspects of his career are seeing the progress young people make in their academic and career choices, and assisting his students with their decisions by offering them the most up-to-date information available.
Charity:
Knights of Columbus
Number Of Years In Profession:
16
Number Of Years In Current Position:
5
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
He attributes his success to his educational background, business contacts, and the support he receives from his family and friends.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
He became involved in his profession because he worked as a school-to-work counselor at a local high school and realized that his calling was to assist young people with career and personal decisions, academics and overall life success.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Instructing, Motivating, Counseling and Preparing Students, Teaching Students about Employability, the Workplace and Life, Offering Students and Parents Academic Tools to Use while Working with Teachers, Helping Individual Students Overcome Personal, Academic and Social Problems as they Arise, Assisting Staff Members with Testing, Classroom Guidance and Student Registration, Promoting the Academic Success of the School, Offering Administrative Assistance
Education Certifications:
Certification in Global Career Development
Awards/Honors:
High Performer Program Award; Outstanding Specialist Award; Award, Jobs for South Carolina's Graduates, Job's for America's Graduates; Award, Jobs for America's Graduates
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Mr. Sumerel intends to continue as a school counselor, provide students with the best services possible and enable them to attain future success.