Outstanding Alumni: Q&A with Heather Miller

09/29/17

Heather Miller is a two-time alumna from LSU, with a BS in Elementary Education (2005) and a MEd in School Counseling (2011). 

As the Professional School Counselor at Youngsville Middle School (Lafayette Parish School System), Miller's day-to-day duties include facilitating classroom guidance lessons; small group counseling; and individual counseling to address the academic, personal-social, and career needs of middle school students. She also  coordinates and collaborates with stakeholders to make data-driven decisions on how to best serve each student.

Miller was recently honored as the Middle School Counselor of the Year for Lafayette Parish. Read on to find out more about Heather and how her LSU degrees facilitated her many successes. 

Why is your LSU degree special?

At LSU, I was able to receive state-of-the-art training in the field of counseling.  I was trained in counseling theories and practices and diagnostic criteria by Dr. Gary Gintner, who was a part of the committee who wrote and published the DSM-V.  My ethics and skills classes were taught by Chair of the Louisiana LPC Board, Dr. Laura Choate.  I received thorough training in school counseling and the ASCA Model from Dr. Jennifer Curry, a nationwide speaker and advocate for school counseling who was awarded the Roger Aubrey Northstar Award for the Counselor Most Likely to Change the Field of Counseling.

What faculty member had the most impact on you and why?

I have had many wonderful professors and instructors throughout my years at LSU, however, Dr. Jennifer Curry, had the greatest impact on me.  Her genuine, caring nature helped instill confidence in me that I had what it took to be a successful school counselor.  Her passion for equity and advocacy were shaping factors in the school counselor I am today. 

How did your degree from LSU help you grow professionally
and personally?

My degree from LSU helped me grow professionally and personally by providing cutting edge training from highly qualified faculty who provided not only excellent instruction but also a supportive environment for me to assimilate all of the knowledge I received and hone my counseling skills.  I was recently awarded Middle School Counselor of the Year for Lafayette Parish, and I was quick to share this honor with Dr. Curry at LSU, who was such an integral part of my journey and development as a school counselor.

 

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About SOE

The LSU School of Education (SOE) offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Research, and Counseling, including two completely online master’s programs. SOE offers a range of professional and academic degree programs that focus on preparing students for careers in education, research, policy formation and implementation, as well as program oversight. The School’s mission is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners, and scholars knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues. SOE is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.  

Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/chse/education

About CHSE

The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree programs, enrolling more than 2,020 undergraduate and 879 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.

Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at lsu.edu/chse