I grew up in Indiana, the middle daughter of three girls, in the suburbs of Indianapolis, I graduated from Warren Central High School, in a class with 760 students. I earned my Bachelors in Public Health Education and Master of Arts in Administration, minor in Counseling at Ball State University, about an hour from home. Early in my career, I served as a welfare caseworker for a year, then became a Youth Counselor for JTPA, a federal program, run by our city government... a summer youth employment program for at risk 16-21 year olds. A year and a half later, I helped adults who were laid off from their jobs, get retraining and find new careers. So...career counseling has been in my blood for many years!!

We moved to NC in 1996 and I became a School Counselor in 1997 for Wake County Schools for 12 years, at all levels K through 12. I attended graduate courses in Counselor Education at NC State University for five years part-time while working full-time as a School Counselor and became licensed in North Carolina in 2002. In addition to being a licensed School Counselor & CDC, I am also an LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor, and have a small private practice in Apex where I serve women 18 and up and their families. Last summer I earned my credential as a Distance Counselor so that I can begin doing online sessions. One reason I became a Counselor was that my parents were separated when I was in late elementary school and divorced when I was in middle school, one of the most difficult times of my life, so I love helping families that are struggling become healthier and happier.

Three years ago, my Principal asked me if I would like to be the CDC at Carroll and at Centennial Campus Middle, and I was happy to try it. I attended the 120 hour training from August to December and had CDC added to my License. Being CDC has been very rewarding!

Final Presentation after 120 hrs

My first year as CDC I served two schools all year and accomplished many innovative career initiatives. Two years ago my Principal asked me to come back to Carroll full time, and asked me to be CDC half time and teach Career Decisions as an elective half time. So, I studied for and passed the FACS certification, and it was added to my license. I am glad I tried teaching Career Decisions, since my respect for Teachers has grown so much! I realized that being a Counselor, or Career Counselor, is what I enjoy most and where my talents really are, so I am grateful to have a new adventure as CDC at both Apex Friendship High and Apex Friendship Middle now!

Our Family...My late Mother is my Hero, and always will be! Olga Larisa was her given name, born in Ukraine, and a survivor of the labor camps of WWII. Mother never saw herself as a victim, but a survivor and taught me to have a tenacious positive attitude, very solution focused. David and I celebrated our 32nd Wedding Anniversary this year, our oldest daughter Lindsay, graduated from the University of Florida, and is a High School French Teacher, (& stay at home Mommy right now) she is married to our first Son in law AJ, (10 years this November) and had our first Grandson Cole Stephen Maielli who is 3. They love living in Maine, a beautiful place to visit. They will be expecting their second child, our 3rd grandbaby around Thanksgiving, so we began this year with one Grandchild and will end it with three! Our youngest daughter Emily, graduated from ECU, then earned her BSN (16 month accelerated program) from Duke University, and is a Charge Nurse in the PC-ICU-Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Emily married her Cary High School sweetheart Austin Moore, in November 2015, they live in Apex. Emily and Austin had our first granddaughter in June 2018! Exciting times for our family to say the least...we are very thankful. In my time off you may see me active with church activities, serving our community, with friends we have known for 20 years. You may also see me shopping at Farmer’s markets. I also enjoy cooking, traveling, Pilates and Yoga. The last page of this site will have more detailed history and information about the above.