Hello 7^th grade students and families. I am so excited to join you all for my second year at Trailside. This will be my first year working with 7th grade students, so I am excited to do more growing and learning 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 youth. 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.

The transition to a new school year can be scary, especially for those of you who are new to the community. I will do my best to help you adjust 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 start that journey 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.