I am married and we share two children. Our son is 22 and our daughter is 14. My husband is an administrator at the high school level and our children keep us busy with dance, color guard, volleyball, and musical/writing endeavors. In my spare time I love to spend time with family/friends, read, listen to music, watch Hallmark movies, and spend time studying my bible.

Professional Organizations:

American Counseling Association

Lapan (2012) found that counseling programs grounded in research are better equipped to address student issues comprehensively and are more likely to secure administrative and stakeholder support. These studies reinforce that research empowers school counselors to design and implement evidence-based interventions that contribute to students' growth.

Lapan, R. T. (2012). Comprehensive School Counseling Programs: In Some Schools for Some Students but not in all Schools for All Students. Professional School Counseling, 16(2), 2156759X1201600. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759x1201600201

Dimmitt, C., & Wilkerson, B. (2012). Comprehensive School Counseling in Rhode Island: Access to Services and Student Outcomes. Professional School Counseling, 16(2), 2156759X0001600. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759x0001600205

Example: A counselor might use a survey to measure levels of student anxiety before and after implementing a mindfulness program.

Qualitative Research

Example: A counselor conducts focus groups with students who participated in a social skills program, gathering feedback on their experiences to make improvements for future sessions.

Mixed-Methods Research

Example: A counselor evaluates a college-preparation workshop by surveying students’ confidence levels (quantitative) and conducting follow-up interviews to capture their personal insights (qualitative).

Program Evaluation

Example: A counselor evaluates a career readiness program by tracking post-graduation employment rates and student feedback on the program's relevance to their career paths.