February 3, 2026 - Two Comal ISD campuses have received the Counseling Reinforcing Excellence in Students in Texas (CREST) award for their work in the 2024-2025 school year. The two CREST winners are from Canyon High School and Pieper High School, a two-time honoree.
These two counseling teams are among an elite group of schools from across the state to win the CREST award which was established by the Texas School Counselor Association in 2005.
“Winning the CREST Award for Pieper High School is a meaningful honor for our counseling team because it recognizes our commitment to supporting the academic, social and emotional growth of every student we serve,” says Kristen Guerra, lead counselor at PHS.
“This award reflects the intentional preventative programs and collaborative efforts we put into creating a safe and student-centered environment that is based around the Texas Model for School Counselors. For our team, earning the CREST Award shows that we are making a positive impact and motivates us to continue advocating for all our students.”
The counseling team at PHS which has won the CREST award two years in a row, and the first CREST award honoree in the district, includesGuerra, Ashton Chandler, Catrina Clarke, Natalie Gates, Nivia O’Malley and Katherine Tolbert.
The CHS counseling team is the first to win the CREST award for its campus and consists of Natalie Austin, Daniela Avilas, Brandi Boyd, Greer Del Rio, Sara Schroeder and Kaylyn Sherrill.
“We are so excited to receive this award because it's affirmation for our team that we are supporting our students academically, emotionally, and socially to the best of our ability,” says Boyd, lead counselor.
“This means that the work we have poured our hearts into — the guidance lesson planning, the individual check-ins, the crisis interventions, the one-on-one student and parent academic planning sessions, and everyday encouragement we try to bring to our students, staff, and families — is making a real difference.”
Schools receiving CREST awards have demonstrated a commitment to using the Texas Model to improve the lives and achievement of students in academic, career and personal social domains.
Photo information
-Pictured from left is the Canyon High School counseling team which received the CREST award for the 2024-2025 school year including Brandi Boyd, Jennifer Simmons, Natalie Austin, Daniela Avilas, Sara Schroeder and Greer Del Rio.
-Pictured from left is the Pieper High school counseling team which received the CREST award for the second year in a row including Nivia O’Malley, Katherine Tolbert, Ashton Chandler and Kristen Guerra.