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Mental Health Matters!
In such an unprecedented time, it is so important to consider our students' mental health. Currently, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 10-18 year olds across the Nation. Unfortunately, COVID has only exacerbated our students' level of stress.
The Alabama State Department of Education along with our State Legislators have recognized the important role mental health plays in student development and overall academic success. Therefore, the position of Mental Health Coordinator was created for Alabama school districts and 4.5 million dollars was given in grant monies to fund this position. Leeds has been one of the school districts to apply and be awarded these funds. We were excited to add this position to the Leeds City Schools in the Fall of 2020.
School District Mental Health Team
Rachel Harper is a 2001 Leeds graduate. She received her undergraduate and graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She is licensed by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners as a LICSW and has over 15 years experience.
Rachel and her husband returned to Leeds along with their three children in the Spring of 2017, after working cross-culturally with internationals in Atlanta for the previous five years. Other areas of experience include two years of school mental health and five years of nonprofit/community work. Rachel is passionate about children and teen mental health and is excited to grow mental health services for Leeds City School students as a Mental Health Therapist
Olga Zakrevskaya is licensed by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners as a LMSW who got her undergraduate and graduate degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also has previous experience in child welfare, as an intern at a Child Advocacy Center. Olga and her family moved to Alabama in 2011 from Russia. She now lives in Chelsea with her husband.
After graduating from UAB in December of 2023, Olga took on a role of a Mental Health Coordinator at Leeds City Schools. Since that time she has learned to love the city and its' residents. One of Olga's exciting roles includes being a Peer Helper Coordinator at Leeds High school. (More information about the Peer Helpers community can be found on our highlights page). She is eager to continue building the mental health community in the school system and provide opportunities to the students and families that Leeds serves.
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