Burlington Educator Henry Wan Earns Statewide Recognition
Burlington resident Henry Wan was just named Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year — and he had no idea it was coming. Here's his story.
Elementary school can be a formative – and sometimes tumultuous – time. The years from kindergarten through fifth grade shape how children navigate challenges, process emotions, and build relationships. For many students, the school counselor plays a pivotal role in helping them grow the skills that will get them to the other side of childhood feeling confident and supported.
For students at Harrington Elementary School in Lexington, one such person is Henry Wan – a Burlington resident who was recognized this year for his work in ensuring all students feel welcome and valued.
This January, Wan was presented with the 2026 School Counselor of the Year award from the Massachusetts School Counselor’s Association (MASCA), and he’s now in the running for Counselor of the Year nationwide.
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“I read the list of what they were looking for [for the award],” said principal Jackie Daley, whose nomination of Wan was her first ever, “and I thought, I have this guy right in my building.”
Wan started his career as a pediatric medical social worker before pivoting to work in schools. “I wanted to work directly with youth,” he said, building relationships over time rather than stepping in only during moments of crisis.
Over Wan’s eight years at Harrington, he has made a huge impact on students, said Daley. “He really goes above and beyond the clinical day-to-day that most elementary counselors would do,” she said, from leading affinity groups to attending school chorus concerts with his family — even playing guitar to create a welcoming atmosphere on the first day of school.
“He's amazing. He’s innovative. He’s probably one of the most kind and loved people in the building.”
- Jackie Daley, Principal, Harrington Elementary School, Lexington
Daley said the entire counseling staff is amazing, and Wan concurs. “I am always learning from my school counseling colleagues, so to be distinguished was definitely a surprise,” he said. “I didn’t know what to think, because I didn’t see myself as doing anything more special than the next school counselor.”
While Wan was involved post-nomination in creating a submission packet including a personal statement and letters of recommendation from colleagues and community members, his selection – announced to him in front of the entire school community at a school assembly – took him by surprise.
“The assembly finished,” said Wan, “and my principal said, ‘Not so fast, Mr. Wan.’” Then some recognizable faces entered the school gym, including the state Secretary of Education, president of MASCA and Wan’s wife Ally and other family members. “In addition to being recognized in front of all my colleagues and students, my proudest moment was being recognized in front of my kids…I always aim to inspire them to do good in the world.”
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Wan’s passion for belonging guides his practice and sets his work apart – and it comes from a personal place. “Growing up as an Asian male, it wasn’t the easiest upbringing, and there were times when I was very discontent in who I am,” said Wan, and he strives to make sure no student feels overlooked.
This work affords him the opportunity to create space for all children to recognize their inherent value, like in his video series We All Belong, which features students sharing their unique cultural and family traditions and serves as an opportunity to affirm diverse identities while also facilitating learning from peers. Daley says these efforts help students understand “how they fit into our school, Lexington, and the world at large.” That, in turn, makes Wan someone kids seek out when they need support.
Parent and PTA president Meg Tabela agreed, saying Wan builds relationships with every kid throughout the year in an unrushed, unforced way so when something comes up they know they can turn to him. “He has this calm, thoughtful, peaceful way to work with kids that makes them feel so safe to communicate with him. It just comes so natural to him,” she said.
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Wan might make the work look effortless, but he spends time collaborating with colleagues in the school and at professional conferences and bringing new ideas into his repertoire. Thanks to this award, he has already begun taking more of a leadership role at some of these events, including a recent advocacy day at the State House where he shared the podium with the Massachusetts Attorney General. “He gets to share his passion for his work on a grander scale,” said Daley. “He's become a spokesperson for this work.”
Wan is excited for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the practice of counseling across Massachusetts and the entire country. “I want to see every student have adequate access to a school counselor first and foremost,” he said.
Along with statewide recognition comes a tangible benefit. Wan is in the process of deciding along with his colleagues in the district how Lexington elementary students will most benefit from the $5,000 in prize money, which is intended to serve the social-emotional needs of students. Yet the award’s significance extends far beyond its monetary value.
“To have this opportunity to be recognized with such a profound award helps affirm in me that even I as an Asian male can contribute to this field that is largely composed of people who don’t look like me,” he said.
Wan hopes this award elevates his students’ understanding of the support counselors can provide for them. “My hope is that they will see that their feelings matter and that they can control and cope with their own feelings, and counselors like myself can support them in doing so.”
Later this year, Wan will be considered alongside other state winners from around the country for the 2027 American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) School Counselor of the Year.
