LSCA LEADERSHIP
Presidential View. Officers. Committee Chairs
Presidential View
Today, I am stepping out on faith with a mission and a vision. I am embarking on a new journey as your President of the Louisiana School Counseling Association. I approach this opportunity with fidelity and passion to advocate for this esteemed profession and the students we serve. I come to you with over a decade of experience working in school settings from elementary to post-secondary.
My experience reaches outside the school counseling realm through my previous work with the Department of Health and Hospitals. Currently, I am the Owner/Director of Cognitive Solutions LLC (a counseling, consulting, and mediation practice) and Assistant Professor of Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana. Given my experience, I believe that I am in the best possible position to be of service to you and LSCA.
This year, I have three main goals. I will engage LSCA members to plan and provide professional development geared to navigate the post-Covid-19 landscape of the profession. I would like to also focus on our efforts to obtain government support in reforming the non-counseling responsibilities assigned to our Louisiana School Counselors. Lastly, I will promote advocacy and social justice throughout the profession as a lens filtering out daily roles, responsibilities, and experiences.
This is the time for us to show up for our profession! If you would like to be a part of this cause, please reach out to any one of our board members to participate in our meetings, join a task force, or nominate yourself to run for an elected position. With your help I will accomplish my goals in support of LSCA’s mission and we will all have a productive year! I look forward to hearing from you and serving as your President!
Dr. Ariel Encalade Mitchell, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S
Director of Counseling, Cognitive Solutions, LLC
Graduate Professor of Counseling, XULA
Officers
President
Dr. Ariel Encalade Mitchell
Amitch11@xula.edu
President elect
Kesha M. Simmons
kmsimmons@caddoschools.org
President elect-Elect
Dr. Dymphna Davis,
phdddavis191307@gmail.com
Past president
Veronica Douglas-Johnson
Jarelle2npower@aol.com
post Secondary Vice President
Dr. Stephanie Eberts
seberts@lsu.edu
Secondary Vice President
Amanda Duplatier
amanda.duplantier@gmail.com
Middle Level Vice President
Mary Speed
maryspeed.ma@gmail.com
Elementary Vice President
Miriam Davis
miriamdavis77@gmail.com
Secretary
Claire Barry
chbarry@uno.edu
Treasurer
Pamela Radford
radfordpamela@bellsout.net
Committee Chairs
Finance
Pamela Radford
Long range Planning
Kesha Simmons
Public Relations/
Advocacy
Tara Washington
twashingon97@ebrschools.org
Professional Development
Dr. Wendy Rock
Nominations and Elections
Veronica Douglas-Johnson
Membership
Dr. Ariel Mitchell and all Vice Presidents
Social Media
Rachel Young
rachelyoung43@gmail.com
Ethics Board and Professional Certification
Dr. Wendy Rock
Policies, procedures, & By laws
Brenda Eccles
bdeccles@lpssonline.com
Government Relations
Brenda Eccles
Graduate Student
Chauntreniece Davis
Publications
Vinetta Frie
frienews@yahoo.com
Awards Co-Chairs
School counselors of the year
Elementary School
Laura Smestad
Middle School
Candace Sharper
High School
Lindsay Carlino
Past LSCA Presidents
48 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
Vacant Positions
Join Our Team
Open Positions:
-
Parliamentarian
-
Technology/Website
-
Research Grant/Scholarship Chair
Please contact Dr. Ariel Encalade Mitchelll to express interest