LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile
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Vanessa Barnes
Position: Dean of Students
School: Milbrook High School
School District: Wake County Public School System
City, State: Raleigh, NC
Vanessa Barnes was nominated by the North Carolina School Counselor Association.
Ms. Barnes was named the North Carolina School Counselor of the Year and one of five finalists for the 2021 National School Counselor of the Year honor. In her role, she tasks herself with building the same high level of rapport and trust with diverse stakeholders as any counselor, despite having fewer built-in opportunities for one-on-one interactions. Her success is based on high level programming, consistency, and presence. What sets her apart is that she never forgets that her students, families, and co-workers are people first. She has been a tremendous asset to her school community and students.