Ragsdale, Shaw recognized by school counselors' group

The Southeast Missouri School Counselors� Association recently recognized Leigh Ragsdale and Kayleen Shaw for their outstanding contributions to their respective schools.

Ragsdale, now principal at Franklin Elementary School in Cape Girardeau who will transition to principal at Jefferson Elementary School this summer, was recognized as School Counseling Advocate of the Year for her work with Central High School, when she was assistant principal in 2016 and 2017.

When reached by phone Friday, Ragsdale said she was in a �state of shock� over receiving the award, as she thought she was attending the awards ceremony to present, not receive, an award.

Ragsdale said she was both honored and humbled by the recognition.

�Don�t talk about it, be about it,� Ragsdale said. �We can talk all day long about change and issues and come up with solutions, but really putting those solutions into action is what�s important.�

Kayleen Shaw, guidance counselor at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson, was recognized as Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Southeast Missouri School Counselors' Association.Submitted photo

Ragsdale helped implement several projects at the high school while there, including the Grab and Go program providing microwaveable meals to students at the end of the school week, a �giving closet� styled as more of a shopping boutique so students in need would be able to feel more of a shopping experience, and several other projects.

�Life is hard enough,� Ragsdale said. �If we can create positive experiences for our students while they�re in school, why not do that?�

To that end, Ragsdale helped create the CT Kindness movement to combat cyberbullying.

�Everyone gave me a lot of credit, but it was definitely not just me,� Ragsdale said. �A lot of people helped make all of those things happen. It�s not about one person. It�s about everyone on a team, about finding ways to reach kids and help them reach our high expectations.�

Kayleen Shaw, guidance counselor at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson, was recognized as Elementary School Counselor of the Year.

Shaw said she�s surrounded by other counselors in the district who encourage her to do better and be better every day for the students.

That coupled with teacher and leadership support makes a real difference, she said.

Shaw said the speech about her recognition mentioned her joyful attitude, and, she said, that attitude is intentional.

�It carries over to our kiddos,� she said. �They�re at a place where joy and happiness is shown on our teachers, counselors, principal � it creates a very positive experience.�

Shaw said she�s especially passionate about a couple of initiatives right now.

�Our district is becoming trauma informed,� she said, to make sure teachers and staff can meet students on their level and understand and respond appropriately to those who have dealt with traumatic experiences.

The entire district is receiving professional development currently, Shaw said, to work through new research about children and the effects trauma can have on them.

�We�re not doing what�s best for kids if we�re not trauma informed,� Shaw said.

�I�m also passionate about holistic, healthy living,� Shaw said, and mentioned the running group with some students after school.

�Making sure our minds and bodies are healthy helps us to be joyful,� Shaw added.

Shaw said she asks herself, �How can I as a counselor lay that groundwork and meet those kiddos� needs at school?�

As a school counselor, she sees students every day, where another professional, such as a doctor or mental health counselor, might see them only once a month. So, she said, it�s important she frame her practices as a counselor to help get students where they need to be.

�One thing I really want to say is, I don�t do anything differently than the other counselors and teachers and principals I work with every day,� Shaw said. �I couldn�t do what I do without everyone around me.�

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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