NATCHEZ &045; It’s the relationship Principal Fred Marsalis has developed with his counselors that has earned him an honor at tonight’s Mississippi School Counselors Association Professional Recognition Banquet.

The Morgantown Elementary principal will be awarded the meritorious service award for the state, based on a nomination from the school’s counselors.

Peggy June and Mary Washington nominated their boss for the award based on his understanding for the job they do, June said.

&uot;We were overloaded (with work),&uot; June said. &uot;He allowed us to have more time for individual counseling. The main thing is he supported us in our endeavors to be able to provide more time counseling children.&uot;

Prior to Marsalis’ time at the school, the two counselors were teaching a full load of classes in addition to providing the needed emotional support to students, she said.

Now in his second year, Marsalis has restructured the school to open up the guidance schedule for more actual counseling.

The counselors still teach character education courses to second- through fourth-graders, but have the rest of the day open to other projects.

Marsalis said he was proud that his counselors nominated him for the award, but he still took the chance to praise their work.

&uot;The counselors were generous enough to nominate me,&uot; Marsalis said. &uot;The two counselors are both very seasoned and very helpful to our process. They are very efficient and know what they are doing.

&uot;I’ve got them more involved in counseling and I think that’s a help to them, the school and the administrators. We wanted to give them more time.&uot;

Marsalis and the counselors will travel to Jackson today to receive the award tonight at a banquet at the Hilton Hotel.