2025 ELECTION resultS |
TSCA is pleased to announce the results of our 2025 Board of Directors election! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rhonda Hill, Ingrid Smith-Rowland, and Whitney Chambers-Woods. These school counselor leaders will take office on July 1, 2025. Learn more about your new board members below!
TSCA is also happy to announce Jesse Penland as our graduate student representative! |
DR. RHONDA HILLI would like to serve on the TSCA Board of Directors to actively advocate for the school counseling profession and participate in legislative and policy discussions and decisions that impact school counselors and students across the state. In my current role as a school counseling manager, I advocate for school counselors and raise awareness about their role in my district. By serving on the TSCA Board of Directors, I will have the opportunity to advocate and contribute to the advancement of school counseling practices on a broader level. I will be able to network and collaborate with other school counseling leaders across the state. Also, I will enhance my leadership skills and professional knowledge. I will help promote the interests of school counselors and ensure that the association is effectively supporting the members and advancing the mission and overall field of school counseling. Furthermore, I will support initiatives that promote equity and inclusion and contribute to positive outcomes for students. If given the opportunity to serve on the TSCA Board of Directors, I will play a vital role in shaping the future of school counseling in the state. |
WHITNEY CHAMBERS-WOODSI am a passionate learner who strives for excellence in my professional domains, school counseling, counselor education, and mental health. I believe that as individuals, we have a circle of influence and can certainly be impactful within that sphere. However, we must continue to ask ourselves how we can extend the reach of our important and good work, ethical standards, student focus, mental health care, school systems of care, college and career exploration, community/family engagement, and education? The the answer to this question is to join our spheres in counselor unity through an organization such as the Tennessee School Counselor Association to advance our far-reaching impact beyond our individual spheres. Uniting with other school counselors across our great state of Tennessee will enable listening ears, open hearts, growth mindsets, monitoring and adjusting policy/procedures, applauding best practices, lifting up those who need cheerleaders, navigating the fast influx of information, and being WITH those who walk crooked paths. I have learned in my tenure that my favorite preposition is WITH. I am WITH my colleagues, my fellow counselors, my families, my community, my state, and most of all, WITH my students. My desire is to be WITH and part of TSCA. |
INGRID SMITH-ROWLANDWith 15 years as a school counselor, I am eager to bring my expertise and passion for student well-being to the TSCA Board of Directors. My career has focused on creating environments where all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. I have implemented comprehensive counseling programs, collaborated with teachers, parents, and advocated for student mental health and academic success. These experiences have honed my leadership, communication, and advocacy skills, preparing me to support the TSCA's mission. The role of school counselors is often misunderstood. I am committed to clarifying and advocating for our essential duties, guiding students through their academic journeys, addressing their emotional needs, and preparing them for future success. By serving on the TSCA Board, I aim to enhance awareness and understanding of our profession, ensuring our contributions are recognized and valued. I am passionate about promoting equity and access to counseling services for all students, regardless of their background. Serving on the TSCA Board would allow me to work with like-minded professionals to advance initiatives supporting our diverse student population. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the TSCA's efforts in shaping the future of school counseling in Tennessee. |
JESSE PENLANDWith the nature of the current academic and socio-political landscape, it feels as though now is the time for passionate people to seek out positions which afford them an opportunity to not only play part in decision-making processes but - most importantly - serve as an advocate for those who are often neglected. As a communications major with a dual degree in counseling, I feel as though I can offer an educated yet empathetic response to challenges being faced by students and counselors across our State. Having the opportunity to serve on the TSCA Board of Directors would provide me an opportunity to be a passionate voice for evidence-based practices designed to support each and every student’s success, a helping-hand/shoulder-to-lean-on for my fellow School Counselors, and a proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration in order to maximize benefits of school counseling processes/procedures for stakeholders and LEA’s alike. While I may be new to this field, I have nearly 10 years of experience working with youth K-8th and am eager to play part in the bigger picture of what we do. |