Ms. Nadia Boateng

Hello 8^th grade students and families. I am so excited to join you all for my third year at Trailside. This will be my first year working with 8th grade students as they transition to high school, so I am excited to continue this journey with you all.

I am an LCPS alumna and have lived in Loudoun since I was 10yrs old. I attended Tolbert Elementary, Harper Park Middle School and graduated from Heritage High School. I received my bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University, with a double major in Psychology and Human Services, and my Master’s in School Counseling from George Mason University. I have always had a passion for education, mental health and working with young people. I began my career in education as an AVID tutor in Virginia Beach. I loved helping students achieve their academic goals and planning for their futures. Later, I became a Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselor in Manassas Park. This role really prepared me for becoming a school counselor as I spent a lot of time collaborating with school staff to manage student crises and assisting families with finding mental health resources in the community. My other experiences include working with the homeless population, interning for LCPS, and supervising/teaching undergraduate university students. All these experiences have helped shape my worldview and prepare me to work with students from many populations.

A few fun facts about me are that I was born in the United Kingdom but grew up in both Canada and the USA. My family is originally from Ghana, and I love spicy food and Afrobeat music. I have two sisters who are also LCPS alumna and nieces and nephews that I adore. I enjoy spending my free time with my family, listening to podcasts, reading, or taking long walks. I also enjoy going to concerts and exploring new cities outside of Virginia with friends.

We have a lot to look forward to this year in 8th grade. The transition to high school can be overwhelming, but I promise to be with you every step of the way. The amount of growth students have made since meeting most of them in the fall of 2021 is admirable and I am confident that we will have another successful school year. I always knew that one day I wanted to give back to the school district that made me who I am today, and I am excited to be fulfilling that goal with Trailside! I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!

"One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else's survival guide."

- Brene Brown.