Meet Jeannine Vaughn Roulette

“My dream is to use my HGSE degree, experiences, and connections to merge the services of a counselor, a psychologist, and a social worker within a single organization and provide underserved youth access to the complete range of services they need for educational success,” Jeannine Vaughn Roulette explains. “This organization would also offer supplemental services related to family support, advocacy, and family-school partnerships.”

Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in human development, Jeannine spent some time exploring different areas within the education system. “I always knew I wanted to be an educator, but counseling wasn’t part of my original plan,” she says. “My experience working as a teacher’s aide at a public elementary school in upstate New York, however, was eye-opening. I had the opportunity to work with wonderful children with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism, and soon realized they simply were not getting the services they needed. I decided I wanted to be in a position where I could more directly impact kids who require preventative services to succeed, not just in school, but in life. This program, and this strand, was a perfect fit.

“Too often, within schools, the focus is on when students do not do well, the skills they lack, the areas they struggle with, and on how their families are not involved with the education of their children in expected ways. This program has reframed my traditional ideas about what these individual strengths are, and how I can use them to create transformational, customized solutions for my students and families. I have also been amazed by the sense of community here. The rich diversity of experiences and backgrounds of my fellow students and the support of incredibly accessible professors and staff have been integral to my experience. I’ll always treasure the countless, meaningful connections I’ve made through HGSE.”