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Burns Honored by California Assembly

Dr. Keisha Larry Burns has been acknowledged by Assemblymember Lackey in Palmdale, California for her contributions to the field of school counseling and for being selected as the 2022 California School Counselor of the Year (SCOY).
On Friday, May 20, 2022, Dr. Keisha Larry Burns was acknowledged by Assemblymember Lackey in Palmdale, California for her contributions to the field of school counseling and for being selected as the 2022 California School Counselor of the Year (SCOY). This celebration is one in a series of opportunities for SCOY recipients to meet with their local legislator to discuss the important work of school counselors. Burns is a middle school counselor in the Palmdale Unified School District. She was accompanied to this local ceremony by Palmdale Unified School District representatives including Superintendent Raul Maldonado, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Donna Campbell, Candace Craven, Coordinator Extended Learning and Community Outreach, and Director of Mental Health Services Juan Leanos. Also present were Board of Trustee Members, Simone Zulu Diol and Ralf Velador and CASC Executive Director, Dr. Loretta Whitson.

Superintendent Maldonado spoke of the value Dr. Burns brings to the school district including leading Palmdale Unified in receiving six Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) awards. Additionally, Assemblymember Lackey spoke about how Dr. Burns represents the need for more counseling services for California's children and youth. Dr. Burns thanked Assemblymember Lackey for his support for mental health services in early education settings, referring to Lackey's bill, AB-2281 Early Childhood Mental Health Services Act. This informal celebration of Dr. Burns included her receiving an Assembly Resolution.

Dr. Burns is responsible for creating and maintaining a comprehensive counseling program at Shadow Hills that aligns with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model. As a school counselor she assists students in the areas of academic, social/emotional development, and college/careers. These three domains are achieved annually by providing students with core counseling lessons, small group intervention, and individual counseling sessions. Dr. Burns' counseling program became a Recognized ASCA Model Program in 2020.

While striving to promote access and equity for all students through her counseling program, Dr. Burns helps foster increased awareness, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity in the school and community through advocacy and networking to ensure a welcoming school environment. She believes cultural responsiveness is essential to create a school climate that embraces cultural diversity and helps to promote success for all students.

Palmdale USD RAMP schools include:
Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Academy, Palmdale
Desert Willow F.A.S.T Magnet Academy, Palmdale
Los Amigos Dual Immersion School, Palmdale
Palmdale Learning Plaza Middle Years Programme, Palmdale
Shadow Hills Magnet Academy, Palmdale
Space & Aeronautics-Gateway To Exploration Academy, Palmdale

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