GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Area Public School District counselor Tammy Van Ess received the 2025 Wisconsin Counselor of the Year award.

Van Ess said every child that walks into her office has great potential. She said it’s her job to help prepare their young minds to grow and adapt.

“You could change what you want to be 100 different times, as long as you have a goal and as long as you have a passion,” the Jackson Elementary School counselor said.

What You Need To Know

  • Jackson Elementary School Counselor Tammy Van Ess was awarded the 2025 Wisconsin School Counselor of the Year

  • Van Ess is best known for her work in creating the Hunger Heroes food pantry at Jackson Elementary

  • Award recipients are determined based on their contributions to the school counseling program, leadership and service to their community

  • Van Ess will represent Wisconsin in the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year process and during the American School Counselor of the Year celebration in February 2026

Van Ess’ passion for working with youngsters started in college. She said she wanted to be a teacher but always had a soft spot for children with challenges.

“I worked as a parkie, as a playground leader here in Green Bay, and loved to work at the parks that were tougher, that had the tougher kids, the kids that I felt needed somebody to believe in them and to kind of mentor them,” Van Ess said.

Bringing out the best in students is what Van Ess has done for 17 years. That’s part of the reason she’s Wisconsin’s 2025 School Counselor of the Year.

Inside Jackson Elementary School, you’ll find Van Ess offering in-classroom support to the school’s more than 380 students.

“I think the social-emotional needs and the mental well-being of our students, of our families, should really be at the forefront in order for our kids to be able to learn and be successful lifelong learners,” Van Ess said.

Academics can be stressful. For students needing to vent, Van Ess said her office is always open. Fourth-grader Kinley Munoz said she looks forward to her Friday lunch chats.

“She helps a lot, like, not just like me. She helps a lot of different students. That’s actually really kind. She’s safe,” Munoz said.

Van Ess is best known for the Hunger Heroes food pantry. It’s her COVID-borne project that now has participation from nearly every fourth- and fifth-grader.

Van Ess said this pantry helps students learn how to give and take graciously.

“Whether it be bringing items in from a donation or stocking shelves or helping prepare them, the food bags every single month and some of those students also receive the food every single month, so they also have a hand in what they’re receiving at home, which makes great conversations with their families,” Van Ess said.

Van Ess will represent Wisconsin in the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year process and during the American School Counselor of the Year celebration in February 2026.

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