Counselor has many roles for Gwinnett school

Alcova Elementary School counselor Amy O’Neal’s job duties include far more than organizing career day.

She manages a pantry where food is kept for needy students, makes visits to parents whose children are struggling academically, helps students dealing with cyberbullying, listens to kids coping with the death of a loved one and alerts authorities if she suspects or learns a child is being abused. She’s been a school counselor for 12 years.

Gwinnett County’s school system this month named O’Neal its elementary school counselor of the year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution interviewed O’Neal this week.