- Post-graduate
- Post-graduate - Masters of Science in Sociology and Marriage and Family Therapy (1997)
BIOGRAPHY
Laurie is in her 6th year as SJCS Guidance Counselor. Her education is Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Family Sociology and a Post Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University. Her professional license is an LMFT
Laurie started her career with children at the local shelter for battered women. There, she saw a need for something more specific for the children of the women who entered the shelter and developed and implemented a curriculum specifically for them to deal with their situation. This was the beginning of her love of working with children. Following that job, she served as the first Executive Director of the Children Advocacy Center of Lowndes County for nine years. Mrs. Wallace then had 2 years in private practice, where she did family and individual therapy before staying home for eight years with her three children.
Her three children are now in 6th, 4th and 3rd grade at SJCS. She is married to Russell Wallace, a local attorney, who attended SJCS himself K5-8th grade. When their youngest began school, she became our school Guidance Counselor. This extensive background in work with children and her professional license in therapy, enables her to make SJCS Counseling program more individualized to meet family needs. She also implements programs at the school, required by the Diocese, such as Protecting Gods Children, Avoiding Lures, Cyber Safety, and Bullying. Age appropriate topics are given to younger children such as Being a Good Friend in Preschool. Individual school counseling is provided, as needed to address social and emotional issues that impact a child academic success. She also provides parent meetings to assist in helping their children be the best they can be in the school setting, as well as helping children adjust to familial changes, such as a parent being deployed or a recent move
Mrs. Wallace leads extracurricular activities such as Girls On the Run, Student Council and serves as SJCS Representative for Valdosta Youth Council.