
The
Virginia
School
Counselor
Association
(VSCA)
has
elected
Melissa
Leischner,
school
counselor
at
Bristow
Elementary
School,
to
serve
on
its
board
of
directors.
Leischner
is
one
of
nine
members
on
the
board
and
will
serve
a
three-year
term.
As
a
member
of
the
board,
Leischner
hopes
to
serve
as
an
advocate
on
behalf
of
all
Virginia
school
counselors
and
students.
She
said
she
looks
forward
to
helping
school
counselors
provide
comprehensive
school
counseling
programs
to
meet
the
needs
of
every
student.
Leischner
has
served
as
a
school
counselor
in
PWCS
for
more
than
10
years.
During
her
tenure,
she
has
delivered
comprehensive
and
innovative
programs
that
improved
behavior
and
school
climate,
earned
Recognized
ASCA
Model
Program
(RAMP)
distinctions
at
Bristow
Run
and
Potomac
View
Elementary
Schools
and
was
selected
as
a
finalist
for
the
ASCA
School
Counselor
of
the
Year
Award.
"In
my
17
years
in
education,
I
am
most
proud
of
the
collaborative
programs
I
have
helped
to
launch
that
provide
unique
and
fun
opportunities
for
students. This
year,
we
have
featured
students
on
our
morning
announcements
doing
mindful
moments
to
get
us
all
focused
and
ready
for
the
day. I
have
also
enjoyed
giving
students
opportunities
to
help
me
write
and
create
plays
and
productions
that
focus
on
academic,
social/emotional,
and
career
development."
Leischner
serves
as
a
lead
mentor
in
the
School
Division,
working
with
new
counselors
throughout
the
school
year.
She
has
presented
at
the
VSCA
annual
conference
about
the
positive
impact
of
mentoring
partnerships,
written
articles
for
the
ASCA
magazine,
and
successfully
advocated
for
changes
in
the
RAMP
rubric
directly
to
ASCA.
"Assisting
those
entering
the
profession
is
important
to
me,"
shared
Leischner.
"Collaborating
with
local
organizations
to
establish
successful
mentoring
partnerships
has
been
critical
to
my
work
as
a
counselor
in
helping
to
assist
and
advocate
for
at-risk
populations.
I
have
seen
first-hand
the
awesome
impact
that
mentoring
partnerships
has
on
students."
The
VSCA
provides
professional
development
opportunities
through
workshops
and
conferences,
advocacy
at
the
state
and
national
level,
networking
opportunities,
and
relevant
information
to
school
counselors
throughout
the
state.
Learn
more
about
the
VSCA
Board
of
Directors.