NAPERVILLE, Ill. — A Naperville North High School counselor has been named the Illinois High School Counselor of the Year by the Illinois School Counselor Association, recognizing nearly a decade and a half of work supporting students and building programs that expand career and college exposure.
Local counselor's career-focused programs reach students
Angelo Georgacopoulos, who joined Naperville North's counseling staff in 2012, was singled out by the statewide association for his contributions to student guidance and program development. In addition to his school role, he maintains a private practice as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
During his time at Naperville North, Georgacopoulos started initiatives aimed at broadening students' postsecondary awareness. The most visible is Career Takeover, now in its third year, which connects students with working professionals for informational sessions designed to illustrate possible career paths.
He also organized an annual career fair and brought an International College Fair to the school three years ago to introduce students to study-abroad and overseas university options.
- Joined Naperville North counseling staff: 2012
- Career Takeover: third year at the high school
- International College Fair at Naperville North: three years
Why it matters for Naperville students and families
Those initiatives represent a shift in how some school counseling offices approach college and career planning: supplementing transcripts and standardized-test advising with workplace exposure and global opportunities. For families in Naperville, programs like Career Takeover and the international fair are local access points for information that many students seek when planning their next steps after graduation.
Georgacopoulos described the origin of his career path and interest in counseling. He originally considered becoming a pediatrician, but a college psychology course changed his direction. He credited his wife, Vicky, with encouraging him to pursue school counseling.
"As usual, she was right, and the rest is history."
Program scale and community engagement
Georgacopoulos said the first Career Takeover had to be assembled quickly and that skepticism from some colleagues only increased his determination. The initial event drew more than 100 career speakers, an early sign of community willingness to take part and an indicator of the program's scale.
| Program | Length at Naperville North | Notable details |
|---|---|---|
| Career Takeover | 3 years | More than 100 speakers during first event |
| International College Fair | 3 years | Introduces international higher-education options |
| Counseling tenure | Since 2012 | School and private practice experience |
Those events are delivered inside the high school and depend on the participation of local professionals and representatives from higher-education institutions. For Naperville families, that means increased opportunity to evaluate career and educational paths without leaving the community.
Recognition and next steps
The Illinois School Counselor Association’s honor raises Georgacopoulos’ profile and also highlights Naperville North’s counseling services more broadly. While awards do not change day-to-day practices, recognition can bolster fundraising, community partnerships and volunteer recruitment—elements that sustain programs like Career Takeover and the international fair.
For parents and students, the award is a reminder of resources available inside Naperville schools: counselors who coordinate events, build employer and college ties, and offer direct mental-health and planning support. Georgacopoulos’ mix of school-based counseling and private clinical practice reflects a growing trend of counselors blending roles to meet a range of student needs.
As Naperville schools continue to navigate postsecondary planning and student wellness, the kinds of programs Georgacopoulos implemented serve as local examples of how counseling offices can expand their reach beyond scheduling and test preparation to include meaningful exposure to careers and global academic opportunities.
This recognition spotlights both a longtime staff member and the community partners who take part in Naperville North’s events, underscoring how local collaboration can translate into statewide acknowledgement.
