John Cook was an untiring advocate of the counseling profession in Virginia.
He was a charter member of the Richmond Guidance Association, the Virginia Counselors Association and the American Counseling Association.
He played a pivotal role in creating the VCA Foundation and perpetuating its vision and purpose and spent many years being the driving force since its inception, including as its major initial contributor.
Cook was a native of Crewe, Va., with deep roots in its educational institutions. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond and later returned there as a teacher, counselor and lead counselor. Encouraged by a high school principal who thought guidance and counseling were “the heart and soul of the school,” Cook’s love for his work as a counselor, and his deep care and concern for those he helped, earned him the reputation as a highly respected counselor to students as well as staff members.
His educational journey has been closely connected to Longwood University, where he earned a B.S. in English, a master’s in education, and a doctorate of letters. At the University of Virginia, he earned his certification as a counselor.
John’s long-time affiliation with Longwood resulted in a substantial endowment to the college, and Longwood named the Cook-Cole School of Arts and Sciences in honor of Cook and Dr. Waverly Cole, his long-time partner.
Cook co-authored the original documents which became the federal legislation mandating elementary school counselors in the U.S. educational system. As a result, he was the co-recipient of the American Counseling Association Legislative Award in 1979. His advocacy for elementary school counselors eventually made them a reality in Virginia, and he has been called “the Father of Guidance and Counseling in Virginia.”
A respected national leader in guidance and counseling, Cook served as the Supervisor of Guidance in the Virginia State Department of Education until his retirement in 1982.
The VCA named its convention keynote annual presentation in honor of Cook, and the VCA Foundation annually presents the John Cook Award to a counselor who has made substantial contributions to the counseling professions.