Tomball ISD Recognizes Tiffanie Toohey and Ashlee Sumrall as 2025-2026 Counselors of the Year

TOMBALL - Tomball ISD is proud to once again recognize the exceptional dedication and impact of its school counselors with the recognition of the 2025-2026 Counselors of the Year. Being honored in the second year of this recognition are Tomball Elementary counselor Tiffanie Toohey and Grand Lakes Junior High counselor Ashlee Sumrall.

School counselors play a critical role in shaping the lives of our students, providing the support, guidance, and resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. They are the advocates, champions, and trusted guides who help students navigate the challenges of growing up and plan for a future full of possibilities.

2025-2026 marks the second year Tomball ISD has awarded Counselors of the Year with the inaugural honorees being Brenda Becerril from Canyon Pointe Elementary and Lashelle Nix from Tomball Memorial High School.

“Both Tiffanie and Ashlee exemplify what it means to be a student-centered leader,” said Tomball ISD Director of Counseling Steven Shiels. “They work tirelessly to remove barriers to learning, support the whole child, and ensure students feel seen, safe, and empowered to succeed. They are strong advocates for the role of the school counselor and consistently model best practices in a comprehensive, data-informed counseling program.”

Tiffanie Toohey
Elementary/Intermediate Counselor of the Year
Tomball Elementary

Ms. Toohey is currently in her seventh year as a school counselor and is in her second year serving Tomball ISD, both at Tomball Elementary. She earned her master’s degree in school counseling from Loyola University Maryland and began her counseling career in Montgomery County Public Schools before relocating to Texas, where she served students in Spring Branch ISD prior to joining Tomball ISD.

“Tiffanie is the most data- and results-driven counselor I know. She leads a model counseling program at Tomball Elementary with both heart and purpose. Whether she’s facilitating a small group, delivering a guidance lesson, or supporting a student one-on-one, she sets clear goals and partners closely with students, parents, and teachers to ensure those goals are met. She is a trusted leader among her peers and consistently shares her expertise, ideas, and best practices.”- Tomball ISD Director of Counseling, Steven Shiels

What makes being a school counselor rewarding?
“Being a school counselor is one of the most special opportunities of my lifetime. To have the opportunity to combine my passion to positively impact the lives of others with my innovative and creative thinking brings me so much joy every day. I am endlessly passionate about school counseling: implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that aligns with district and campus goals, using data to guide meaningful supports, advocating for students, and intentionally creating resilient learners who feel seen, safe, and capable. It is incredibly rewarding that I spend my days growing children’s hearts and minds as they build skills that support their learning, growth, and well-being while doing work that fills my cup every day!”

What inspired you to pursue counseling as a career?
“When I think back to what inspired me to choose a career as a counselor immediately, I think back to how I dreamed of inspiring and uplifting the lives of others. Counseling is built and driven by connection and relationships. As a child I saw first-hand the power of having adults in my life who believed in me and helped guide and inspire me as I overcame life's challenges and explored my own goals, dreams and ambitions. For people of all ages counselors have that same opportunity every day to be that adult in their corner, who can help guide, inspire, and help them resiliently navigate through the challenges they face as they too explore their own dreams, goals, and ambitions on their pathway to success.”

What does this award mean to you personally and professionally?
“Personally and professionally this award was a career dream come true, and for that I am truly honored to receive this recognition from district leadership and fellow counselors, people who so deeply understand the heart and importance of this work.”

Why Tomball ISD?
“When I chose to pursue a pathway to serve in Tomball ISD, I knew I was heading down a pathway of excellence and opportunity to grow as a counselor on my campus and beyond. Tomball truly values growing excellence not just in their students but their educators as well. I have experienced this through the support I have received directly on my campus in implementing a comprehensive counseling program. As well as through opportunities at the district level that I have had to shine a light on the important work counselors do on their campuses to support student success, as well as help to inspire comprehensive counseling programs across our campuses in TISD with facilitating training, to speaking in front of administration and district leadership.”

Ashlee Sumrall
Junior High/High School Counselor of the Year
Grand Lakes Junior High

Ms. Sumrall joined Tomball ISD in January 2018 as a school counselor, following eight years as a teacher and coach in a neighboring district. She began her counseling career in Tomball ISD at Tomball Intermediate School, later serving at Willow Wood Junior High, and in 2020 was honored to help open Grand Lakes Junior High School, where she has spent the past five years supporting students and building a strong campus culture.

“Ashlee works relentlessly for her students, families, and campus—no matter the obstacles. She is a strong voice and advocate for her students, the school counseling profession, and Grand Lakes Junior High. This is one of the many reasons her peers elected her to represent junior high counselors on this year’s Counseling Advisory Team. Ashlee is a Licensed Professional Counselor who leverages her training and expertise to strengthen both Grand Lakes Junior High—where she has served since the campus opened—and the Tomball ISD counseling team.” - Tomball ISD Director of Counseling, Steven Shiels

What makes being a school counselor rewarding?
“Being a school counselor is rewarding because I have the opportunity to build strong lasting relationships with my students, parents, and staff.”

What inspired you to pursue counseling as a career?
“I was lucky enough to be inspired by many amazing educators and I knew I wanted to make a difference and help others feel supported and inspired like I was.”

What does this award mean to you personally and professionally?
“Tomball ISD is filled with the most amazing counselors and to receive this award is such a huge honor!”

Why Tomball ISD?
“There is no better place to be: from the staff, to the students, to the community! Team Tomball= Family.”

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD empowers students to become impactful, contributing citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous and personally valuable educational experiences while partnering with the community. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,000 students across 25 campuses.