Meet Your School Counselors -

Latisha Dixon - Last names A - L

My name is Mrs. Latisha Dixon-Tobias, school counselor for students in grades 6 - 12, last names A-L. I am excited to be your school counselor! I started my career as a school counselor 15 years ago on January 9, 2009. I attended Buffalo State College in Buffalo, NY, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I then pursued my Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

As your counselor, my goal is to make sure you are on track to graduate and be Next Step Ready. I help students become ready for the next step by promoting academic, personal/social and career development.  In helping students to succeed, my motto comes from an ancient proverb: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach him how to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”  (Think about it ). Let’s have a fantastic school year!

Meet Your School Social Worker - 

My name is Maya McNeely and I have been a school social worker since 2022.  I am so happy to be the school social worker at CMVS and PACE and am here to support your student and family. 

I am from Raleigh, NC and recently moved to Charlotte. I went to North Carolina State University for my BSW degree (Go Pack!) and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill for my MSW degree. In my free time, I'm usually spending time with friends & family, hiking, travelling, in cycling class, and exploring new places in Charlotte!

Meet Your Family Advocate -

Hello! My name is Elisa Benítez, the Bilingual Family Advocate. I am a Charlotte native, but was raised in Durham, North Carolina. I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. I graduated from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelors in History and a Masters in Latin American Studies. I have spent my career largely supporting Multilingual Learner and immigrant students and families in the public education system. 

Hola! Me llamo Elisa Benítez, Apoyo Familiar Bilingüe. Soy originaria de Charlotte, pero crecí en Durham, Carolina del Norte. Soy hija orgullosa de inmigrantes mexicanos. Me gradué de UNC Charlotte con una Licenciatura en Historia y una Maestría en Estudios Latinoamericanos. He dedicado mi carrera principalmente a apoyar a estudiante multilingües e inmigrantes, así como a sus familias, en el sistema de educación pública. 

Meet Your School Psychologist - 

My name is Lorraine Zelenz and this is my 29th year working in CMS.  I am the School Psychologist serving the CMS Virtual School and PACE.  My role involves  helping students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. As a psychologist, I  collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students.

School psychologists are mental health specialists who have advanced graduate degrees with training in both psychology and education.  I graduated from Canisius College, in Buffalo, NY with a B.A. in Psychology. I then attended Western Carolina University and obtained an Advanced Master’s Degree in School Psychology. I believe that one of the basic goals of education is to provide children with support for both their educational and emotional needs. As a school psychologist, I am able to consult with parents, teachers, and students to support each child’s academic and emotional growth.

I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two boys. I also have a 6lb Maltese dog attached to my hip.  In my free time, I love to travel, read and to swim.