 | ANNETTE CULBERSONI am a retired professional school counselor and honored to be a candidate for a position on the WVSCA board of directors. I bring a lot of history and experience to the WVSCA board of directors. I have served for 31 years on the board. Even in retirement, I am committed to advancing the welfare of students and supporting the vital work of school counselors. I graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling. The professional organizations that I am in are, West Virginia School Counselor Association and American School Counselor Association. I was employed by Preston County Schools for 32 years with 27 years as a school counselor. I dedicated my career to nurturing students and striving to implement best practices to help students and the program overall. The offices I have served in WVSCA, are Elementary Vice President, board member and for most of the time secretary. I have extended training in Career education (School of Hard Knocks), Values based curriculum and Disc assessment for Youth through Maxwell Leadership Team training, conflict resolution, peer mediation, PBIS, crisis management. Before retiring another Preston County counselor and I took the lead to write and submit a federal grant to fund more counselors for the county. I continue to look for ways to support counselors through grants after retirement as well. The leadership roles that I have held within WVSCA as well as other organizations equips me with strategic planning, communication, and decision making skills essential for effective governance. If elected, I am committed to supporting the interests of school counselors and back policies that promote equity, inclusivity, and student success. I believe the Board plays a vital role in providing professional development opportunities, nourish collaboration among counselors and advocating for resources to support school counseling programs in every county. In these challenging times, the role of school counselors has never been more critical. I am confident that my experience, passion, and vision make me the ideal candidate to represent the interests of school counselors on the Board of Directors. With your support, I am eager to contribute to the continued growth and success of the school counseling profession. |
| JODI WILLIAMSJodi Williams has been a school counselor with Berkeley County Schools for the past 17 years, having worked at the high school and elementary levels. She began her career in counseling as an Americorps Volunteer working with homeless veterans at the local VA Medical Center. After completing two terms with Americorps, Jodi worked as a recruiter with the local Girl Scout Counsel.
Ms. Williams completed her Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at WVU and a Master of Education Degree in School Counseling at APU. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus) and completed 3 years of coursework towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Howard University. As an employee of Berkeley County Schools (BCS), Ms. Williams was named Berkeley County School Counselor of the Year 2022-2023 and the WV School Counselor of the Year 2022-2023. In addition to these awards and honors, Jodi serves on the Berkeley County Schools’ Equity & Inclusion committee and as her school’s Equity & Inclusion liaison. She also serves on the BCS Counselors 10-year Planning Committee, Attendance Committee, and is the liaison for the Military Common Ground Purple Star Award for Opequon Elementary School. Prior to her role as school counselor, Jodi was a substitute teacher for BCS (certified K-Adult, Science). Ms. Williams is a member of several professional organizations including ASCA, WVSCA, BCEA, and NEA. Her community, civic, and volunteer activities and affiliations include former Committee Chair of a local Boy Scout Troop, former NAACP #3242 Membership Committee Chair, NAACP #3242 Secretary, Americorps Alumnus, Board Member of For The Kids By George Children’s Museum at Caperton Station in Martinsburg, and Commission Member and Secretary for the Berkeley County Museum Commission. In her spare time, Ms. Williams enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, the great outdoors, site-seeing and history tours, dancing, puzzles, crochet, billiards, and skating. |
| Lucas Ziems
My name is Luke Ziems and I am currently in my 10th year of working as a Middle School Counselor in the state of West Virginia. If elected to the board of the WVSCA, I will work to provide all school counselors in the state with access to the resources that have helped me deliver services to students and families for the last 10 years. As a middle school counselor, I have seen firsthand how middle schools often get overlooked when it comes to the academic, psychological, and family supports that are provided at other levels of education. I am dedicated to working with other school counselors, administrators, and other stake holders to identify how the WVSCA can best support middle school and establish the norms and expectations of supporting all levels of public education with the systems and resources they need to make their programs thrive. |
