MEET THE CANDIDATES

PRESIDENT-ELECT

• Must be a current LSSSCA Board Member
• In the absence of the President, assume the role of the President with all of its authority and responsibility
• Coordinate with other officers to represent LSSSCA at meetings and conferences of other organizations and with media at the national, state, and local levels
• Chair the Nominations and Elections Committee
• Coordinate special projects on an as-needed basis based on Board goals

ASHLEY WRIGHT 

REGION 6 | Conroe isd | Elementary COUNSELOR

Director of communications & TECHNOLOGY [2021- 2025]

Ashley Wright was born and raised in Houston, TX, and has been an educator for over 15 years. In 2018, she became a certified school counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Her journey began as an elementary teacher, where she witnessed firsthand how students struggled with challenges at home, school, and with their peers. Motivated to make a greater impact, she transitioned into school counseling to provide broader social-emotional support and equip students with the tools to build resilience and foster stronger relationships.

Serving on the LSSSCA Board for the past three years has been an incredible opportunity for Ashley to define what it truly means to be a school counselor leader and to serve countless school counselors across the state. Along the way, she has been fortunate to be recognized as a 2022 American School Counselor of the Year Finalist and the 2021 Texas School Counselor of the Year.

Ashley is passionate about helping school counselors anchor their work in both purpose and passion, while helping stakeholders recognize the profound impact school counselors have on student success. As President-Elect, she is committed to leading with vision, fostering collaboration, and advocating for innovation that empowers both students and counselors to thrive.

DIRECTOR OF Communications & Technology

• Must be a current LSSSCA Member
• Coordinates LSSSCA’s efforts to utilize the latest technology
• Assists with the design and management of the LSSSCA website
• Coordinate with other officers to represent LSSSCA at meetings, conferences and other organizations and with media at the national, state, and local levels.
• Coordinate special projects on an as-needed basis based on Board goals.

Lindsay Fuller

rEGION 11 | aLEDO ISD | LEAD counselor

Lindsay Fuller is in her 16th year as a school counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Education from Baylor University and her Master of Education from Hardin-Simmons University, both of which have equipped her with the knowledge and skills to guide students through the challenges of high school and beyond.

Lindsay is passionate about supporting students in their personal, academic, and career development. Her goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. She is committed to working closely with students, families, and staff to foster success and well-being, while also advocating for the school counseling profession and supporting her team of counselors.

my service commitment 

I am eager to join the LSSSCA Board of Directors as the Director of Communication and Technology to advocate for school counselors by leveraging my skills in digital communication and technology. As a passionate supporter of the school counseling profession, I aim to enhance the visibility of counselors' vital roles in supporting students’ mental health and academic success. Through strategic communication, I will help build stronger networks and amplify the voices of counselors statewide. I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and providing continuous professional development opportunities. I am eager to implement effective platforms for counselors to connect, share best practices, and access timely information. I am committed to advocating for the profession and ensuring that school counselors have the support and recognition they deserve.

JOHN BURNETT

rEGION 4 | FORT BEND ISD | LEAD counselor

John Burnett has been an educator working in public schools for 14 years. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis, Masters in School Counseling from Cambridge College, and Ed.S. in administration from Freed Hardeman. John has served as an Elementary and Middle School Counselor, Spanish Teacher, and Assistant Principal. Currently, John is a Middle School Lead Counselor serving the students and the community in Houston TX. John was a semifinalist for School Counselor of the Year in 2022 with LSSSCA.

He was also featured on NBC’s The Today Show and Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media.

John is also a Content Creator on YouTube and Founder of CounselingwithMrB LLC. Through CounselingwithMrB, he provides engaging and culturally relevant resources, professional development, and training to educators across the globe. John’s personal goal is to continue to make a positive impact in the community and the world.

my service commitment 

I am excited about the opportunity to serve as Director of Technology for LSSSCA. With years of experience in education and leadership, I understand the importance of effective communication and the power of technology to connect and inspire.

In this role, I would focus on enhancing member engagement through timely responses to emails, managing communications, and leveraging social media to amplify LSSSCA’s mission. My experience in creating dynamic, culturally relevant content and managing platforms equips me to ensure that LSSSCA’s digital presence is informative, engaging, and accessible to all members.

As someone deeply committed to supporting school counselors, I see this position as an opportunity to help foster connections, provide valuable resources, and create a cohesive digital environment that reflects the excellence of LSSSCA. I am confident that my organizational skills, creativity, and passion for serving the counseling community will allow me to excel in this role and contribute meaningfully to the organization’s success.

Serving as Director of Technology would not only be an honor but a chance to give back to a community that has had such a significant impact on my professional growth. I am eager to bring energy, expertise, and dedication to this important role.

Melanie Acker

rEGION 10 | Royse City ISD | Executive Director of Counseling & Cultural Development

Melanie is a joyful leader and educator with over 18 years of experience as an elementary teacher, elementary and secondary school counselor, and elementary and secondary assistant principal. She has also served as a Director of 504 & Intervention Services. She currently serves as the proud Executive Director of Counseling and Cultural Development in Royse City ISD. Through all of the various positions in education, Melanie has always had a heart for school counseling and the impact it has on students, staff, and families.

She has had the opportunity to present at various conferences including TEPSA, LSSSCA, ASCA, and Region Service Centers in Texas along with her esteemed colleagues.

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and co-owner of Clarion Therapy & Wellness in Rockwall, TX. She is also an author and enjoys writing books with her husband, Joey.

Melanie is married to Joey and is a mom of two to a 17 year old (Grayson), 14 year old (Ella), and 3 year old dog (Oscar). She enjoys making memories with her family by trying new restaurants and traveling, connecting with others on social media, and creating digital marketing products.

my service commitment 

It would be an honor to serve on the LSSSCA board as this organization means so much to me. The Lone Star State School Counselor Association has been near and dear to my heart for years. From the first time presenting at LSSSCA in 2018 with my friend, I knew this organization was fueled by joy, purpose, and advocacy. Each board member I have had the opportunity to get to know has been genuine, kind, and focused on empowering school counselors and supporting them as they create a positive impact on their campus. The work of LSSSCA is focused on leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and systemic change. Each of those components is ingrained in my personal mission as a counseling leader. Serving on the board and being a part of supporting school counselors on a statewide level would be a dream especially through Communication and Technology. Communication and Technology are powerful avenues to advocate for the work LSSSCA is doing and to provide opportunities for engagement and collaboration with school counselors and other educators around the state.

Counselor Educator Vice President

• Must be a current LSSSCA Member
• Facilitate level-sharing sessions at the annual conference
• Coordinate counselor educator and higher education supervisor listserv and events
• Conference Proposal Rater
• Contribute to the LSSSCA Newsletter 
• Coordinate special projects on an as-needed basis based on Board goals.

Dr. Tamara Singleton

rEGION 10 | Dallas ISD | Counseling Coordinator

As an enthusiastic advocate for education, Tamara Singleton has built a professional career  spanning over 20 years in K-16 school settings. Throughout her career, she has served in various leadership roles at both the campus and district levels, and has also had the opportunity to work as an academic advisor at the university level. Tamara’s school counseling journey began at the elementary level, eventually transitioning to a rewarding ten-year tenure as a high school counselor. While working directly with students, parents, and teachers has been incredibly fulfilling, the opportunity to support fellow counselors has been the highlight of her career. Currently serving as a Counseling Coordinator in Dallas ISD, Tamara collaborates with a team of phenomenal counselors and looks forward to partnering with professional colleagues who share a deep commitment to school counselors, the heart of every school.

my service commitment 

Serving on the LSSSCA Board as the Counselor Educator Vice President is an opportunity to contribute meaningful growth and support to school counselors. I have thoroughly enjoyed the LSSSCA conferences throughout the years. I understand the level of commitment to fulfill the duties as the Counselor Educator Vice President. As a Counseling Coordinator, I would love to continue advocating the school counseling profession by supporting LSSSCA’s vision and mission. It would be an honor to serve on the LSSSCA Board as the Counselor Educator Vice President. As always, I am here to serve!

Kimest Sanders

rEGION 10 |  IRVING ISD | Guidance and Counseling Coordinator and AVID DDL

Kimest Sanders has had the privilege of being an educator for 33 years, with 25 of those years dedicated to serving as a Professional School Counselor. She currently holds the position of Guidance and Counseling Coordinator and AVID District Director Leader at Irving ISD in Irving, Texas. In this role, she finds great fulfillment in supporting counselors every day in their work.

Before transitioning into her current position, Kimest served as an Elementary School Counselor, where she worked closely with students, parents, and teachers. Her favorite aspect of being a school counselor was the opportunity to work directly with students, addressing their needs through classroom guidance, small group sessions, or individual counseling.

Kimest is passionate about integrating technology into counseling programs and continuously seeks new ways to assist counselors in improving their practices through tech tools. Prior to her work as a school counselor, she taught Deaf Education and American Sign Language as a foreign language. This experience helped her develop strong communication skills and a deep appreciation for diverse learning needs.

She also enjoys connecting with and learning from other school counselors, a practice that has greatly enriched her professional growth. Kimest holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

my service commitment 

I am eager to serve on the Board for Counselor Educator Vice President because I am committed to advancing the professional growth of counselors and educator-supervisors. As a current LSSSCA member, I believe my experience and passion for the field will help further the association’s mission.

I am excited about facilitating level-sharing sessions at the annual conference, as I believe these sessions are essential for fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. Additionally, I am motivated to coordinate the counselor educator and higher education supervisor listserv and events, creating opportunities for networking, mentorship, and resource-sharing within our community.

Contributing to the LSSSCA Newsletter is another area where I can add value, providing relevant updates and best practices to keep members informed and engaged. I also look forward to taking on special projects aligned with Board goals, using my organizational skills and proactive mindset to drive initiatives that will benefit the profession.

Overall, I am dedicated to supporting the development of counselor educators and supervisors, and I am confident that my commitment and skills will help enhance the work of LSSSCA. Serving as Counselor Educator Vice President would be a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the growth of our community and profession.