Harrington Elementary School counselor Henry Wan was named the Massachusetts School Counselor Association’s (MASCA) 2026 School Counselor of the Year (SCOY).
This exciting news was broken to Wan on January 20 at a special “All-Hawks Assembly” at Harrington. The entire ceremony, with an audience composed of Harrington students and faculty, big names in Mass. education and local government, executive directors, the Lexington Public Schools superintendent, and Wan’s family, was kept a secret from Wan, who was told the assembly was a continuation of the normal Harrington monthly gathering.
Harrington’s assembly convenes on the last Friday of each month, so having an assembly on a seemingly random Tuesday confused some members of the Harrington community. “People have been asking why we are having an All-Hawks today. Well, I have some very fun news for you,” Harrington principal Jackie Daley said, as she announced Wan’s accolade and queued up a video slideshow of candid photos of him interacting with Harrington students and faculty over the eight years he has worked at the school, showcasing his compassionate nature.
Wan will represent Massachusetts as he advances to a national competition, competing against other school counselors from 49 other states and three territories to become the 2027 National School Counselor of the Year. Before this high-stakes competition, Wan will attend dinners, conferences, and galas on behalf of MASCA in the coming months.
In addition to receiving this prestigious award, Wan was gifted $5,000 from Wellpoint, a Mass. health insurance agency that sponsored the award. The money will go towards whatever Wan sees fit in his practice. This money was presented to Wan in the form of an enlarged check, which made the children in the audience erupt into gasps and excited shrieks.
“I’m really moved that I’m being recognized for doing something I truly love doing. The reason why I’m so passionate about coming here every day is that I love seeing young people feel good about themselves and be accepted,” Wan said. He accepted his accolade with a huge smile and gave a brief acceptance speech. “I consider this a win for Harrington.”
Daley nominated Wan for the SCOY award because he “does so much more than just his day-to-day job. He goes above and beyond. He’s involved in We All Belong, making sure that happens every week, and the affinity groups he leads. He’s part of our equity team. He always comes to our PTA events. He’s the first one to play an instrument when we have some big event going on,” Daley said. “He brings a certain magic to the building. I felt like this was an ideal opportunity to highlight an incredibly talented person.”
Wan is the first person Daley has ever nominated for the award.
Perhaps what sets Wan apart from the nine other school counselors he competed against is his dedication to making Harrington a place where each student feels not only accepted, but loved, by the school community.
Wan runs a series called “We All Belong” at each All-Hawks Assembly, in which a student presents a brief video highlighting an aspect of their culture they are excited to share with their peers, such as a holiday or culinary tradition.
Wan is also the sole leader of Harrington’s Asian-American affinity group, which meets regularly and is restricted to fourth- and fifth-graders. The group typically meets around the time of significant cultural celebrations, such as the Lunar New Year and AAPI month. The group has around 30 to 40 members.
Wan facilitates conversations surrounding race and identity with Harrington’s Asian-identifying students in digestible, accessible ways for elementary schoolers. The group plays games, tells stories, and shares artistic performances with one another before school begins.
“We read books that I feel really speak to the Asian identity. My favorite book we’ve read so far is Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, by a Chinese-American author, about a little girl who’s aware that her eyes look different from the rest of her non-Asian peers and struggles with that. But after speaking with her family, she embraces her uniqueness. And I just love that because my appearance, particularly my eyes, was ridiculed and made fun of. I remember a time when I would look in the mirror and just hate what I saw,” Wan said. “I’m very proud of who I am now, but it was hard getting there. I’m really glad that [Harrington] students can meet, talk about these things, and read wonderful books that address them. Knowing other students who are going through similar experiences is very empowering [for students].”
Wan is known in the Harrington community to be a gentle, kindhearted counselor and has left an indelible mark on his students. Harrington fifth-grade teacher Liz Class said, “Mr. Wan has created powerful spaces where students feel seen, valued, and connected. His ability to build trusting relationships, anticipate student needs, and bring out the best in others, even in challenging moments, makes him a remarkable advocate for students.”
The nomination process for the SCOY award began in October 2025, which required many materials from schools and nominees themselves to advance in the competition, including letters of recommendation, personal essays, and school data.
It may seem unclear how to objectively evaluate a counselor, as a school counselor’s talent is difficult to compare across schools, districts, and municipalities. MASCA has formulated a rubric to address this. In addition to scouting for passionate and dedicated counselors through writing, MASCA reviews data submitted by nominees, which sheds light on the true efficacy of their counseling and helps eliminate confounding variables.
“You need to show that you have made a difference for kids and they’re better because of your interventions,” MASCA Executive Director Bob Bardwell said.
All the students in the audience at Harrington’s ceremony cheered enthusiastically for Wan throughout the assembly, showcasing their appreciation for him.
State Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said, “Schools aren’t just places where you come to read, write, and do math. They are places where you need to feel safe, where you feel seen, and where you feel like you belong. Mr. Wan does that and embodies in every way an exceptional school counselor. The work is challenging, days are full, and the needs of young people are becoming increasingly complex, yet his impact is immeasurable. Counselors like Mr. Wan are essential to ensuring that every student has access to the resources, the opportunities, and the emotional support that they need to thrive.”