The North Carolina School Counselor Association named Lauren Mena, school counselor at Winding Springs Elementary School, the 2025 North Carolina School Counselor of the Year. Mena was recognized in front of her family, students and colleagues during a surprise announcement on Oct. 21.

“This means everything to me,” said Mena. “I am amongst school counselors in Charlotte and in our state of North Carolina who are phenomenal, who I am learning from. To have this recognition means everything to me because there are so many people who have helped me. I am honored and humbled, and it just means everything to get to represent our state of North Carolina.”

Mena is a Charlotte native and graduate of East Mecklenburg High School. She was an instructional assistant during the 2011-12 school year at Morgan School (now Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy) while completing her graduate program and completed her school counseling internship at Olde Providence Elementary School. She started as a school counselor in 2013 at Idlewild Elementary School, where she worked for 10 years, before coming to Winding Springs. 

“I couldn’t think of anybody more well-deserving than Lauren,” said Principal Dr. Matthew Slota. “She’s literally all-in every single day for kids, parents and our school community.”

“From day one as a school counselor, Lauren Mena has been something special,” said Sarah Plano, Elementary School Counseling Program manager. “Her energy, her positive affirmations for students, her resiliency and just helping students reach their absolute potential is something that comes so natural to her. She’s continued to grow, and I couldn’t think of a better representative for our state organization.”

Mena was recognized as the 2025 Elementary School Counselor of the Year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in February. She will represent North Carolina as a finalist for the American School Counselor Association's School Counselor of the Year. Read more about Mena here.