LSCA LEADERSHIP
Presidential View. Officers. Committee Chairs
Presidential View
We worked to execute this new modality under the old construct of guidance counseling, creating practical communication tools for students and parents, establishing an advisory committee of community leaders, and creating a school counseling manual to help guide future counselors. I eventually completed the certification process at Louisiana State University Shreveport and joined the pool of applicants, and was chosen for the school counselor position. While explaining her expectations for the role, the principal told me, “If you advocate for these students as you have for your own child, you will change the trajectory of school counseling.” In fact, she was foreshadowing the many opportunities I would have to use my platform to advocate for the profession of school counseling- at the state and national level.
Eight years later as president of the Louisiana School Counselor Association, I reflect on my unconventional entrance into the profession and our ongoing battle to establish a professional identity and change the modality of our work. My message is unchanged: “Answer the Call”. Efforts to implement a comprehensive school counseling program will sharpen those transferable skills that make you a transformative educational leader. The call can take you many places, but it is my sincere hope that wherever you land, under whatever title, that you are fulfilling your dreams as a school counselor, meeting the needs of students in your community, and striving to improve our profession. That is the work and the ultimate call of a school counselor.
Kesha M. Simmons, M.Ed., PLPC
Behavior Intervention Specialist for Caddo Parish Public Schools
Founder of YouToo, Inc.
Managing Partner of The Family Connection Center at Clint Davis Counseling & Integrated Wellness
LSCA President 2021-2022
School Counseling: A Spectrum of Opportunity
Being a school counselor is a calling. I did not choose school counseling; school counseling chose me, and I answered the call. School counselors are often called to serve in many roles. As challenging as some roles may be, they have a purpose. The multi-dimensional demands enable us to hone our skills, find our niches and discover our passion to become more effective counseling professionals
When I first answered the call to school counseling, it was to serve as a parent volunteer, where I stepped in to assist my daughter’s high school principal, after two counselors retired in the same year. It came about one morning when I encountered a teacher from the school who approached me in panic and disbelief after learning of her colleagues’ retirements. She said to me, “What are we going to do...you have to do something?” Understanding my involvement as a volunteer in the School Counseling Complex, I dashed home to get cleaned up and went to the school to see the principal. There she was, sitting at her desk, with her head in her hands. I asked, “How can I help?” She replied, “I need two school counselors.” I said, “Well, you have one. Now, we can work together to find another.”
Though I was not certified, I was willing to work for free to serve the needs of our students and protect the integrity of our school counseling program. For almost an entire year, I volunteered to implement what was then known as the Louisiana School Counseling Model. Adopted from the ASCA Model, Louisiana School Counseling model was new back in 2013. Still, it was our roadmap for implementing a school counseling program using the three pillars of school counseling: Academics, Social/ Emotional Learning, and College and Career Readiness.
Officers
President
Kesha M. Simmons
President elect
Dr. Dymphna Davis
President elect-Elect
Taneka Fuller
Past president
Dr. Ariel Encalade Mitchell
post Secondary Vice President
Dr. Stephanie Eberts
seberts@lsu.edu
Secondary Vice President
Sarah Jorge
sarah.kay.jorge@gmail.com
Middle Level Vice President
Mary Speed
maryspeed.ma@gmail.com
Elementary Vice President
Marquita George
PARLIAMENTARIAN
Dr. Christianne Ricard
Committee Chairs
Finance
Linda Anderson
Strategic planning
Taneka Fuller
Publications & Advocacy
Tara Washington
twashingon97@ebrschools.org
Professional Development
Dr. Stephanie Eberts
Nominations & Elections
Dr. Ariel Mitchell
Membership
Robyn Bentley
Social Media
Rachel Young
rachelyoung43@gmail.com
Counselor Ethics & Professional Standards
Dr. Wendy Rock
Bylaws
Tirza Fernandez-Brazier
Government Relations
Kesha M. Simmons
Graduate Student
Vacant
Publications
Vinetta Frie
frienews@yahoo.com
Awards and Recognition
Danielle Cole
dtcole@lpssonline.com
School counselors of the year
Elementary School
Amy Arceneaux
Middle School
Destiny Jamison
High School
Tristen Bergholtz
Past LSCA Presidents
Over 50 Years of Outstanding Leadership
Agnes Shaw 1970-71 (Dec)
Charles Thompson and Frances Meyers 1971-72
Mary Higginbotham 1972-73
Betty Levine 1973-74
Harold Landreneaux 1974-75
Geraldine Fletcher 1975-76
Sadie Bodden 1976-77
Bob Viguere 1977-78
Tom Hosie (1978-79)
Mable Santa Marina 1979-80
Kenny Curtis 1980-81
Roxy Denison 1981-82
Eloise Brown 1982-83
Bess Johnson 1983-84
Ethel Taylor 1984-85
Janet Van Halen 1985-86
Billy Fly 1986-87
Kay Robinson 1987-88
Diane Austin 1988-89
Rhonda Chambers 1989-90
Dorothy Stepteau 1990-91
Sharon Rogers 1991-92
Barry Solar 1992-93
Patricia Thomas 1993-94
Charles Ortego 1994-95 (Dec)
Walda Gibbs 1995-96
Ruth Thomas 1996-97
Shirley Colomb 1997-98
Suzanne Mayeau 1998-99
Karen Pique 1999-2000
Sammie Saulsbury 2000-01
Cindy Francis 2001-02
Josephine Hawkins (2002-03)
Alice Cryer-Sumler 2003-04
Robin Olivier 2004-05
Sundy Barjon 2005-07
Iman En-Nabut 2007-08
Wendy Rock 2008-09
Dee Piazza 2009-10
Brenda Eccles 2010-11
Mike Lefort 2011-12
Cathy Smith 2012-13
Jennifer Curry 2013-14
Frank Phinney 2014-15
Tara Washington 2015-16
Reshelle Marino 2016-17
Royce Hooks 2017-18
Denise Latour 2018-2019
Veronica Douglas 2019-2020
Dr. Ariel Mitchell 2020-2021
Vacant Positions
Join Our Team
Open Positions:
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Technology/Website
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Research Grant/Scholarship Chair
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Graduate Student