ASSISTANT CHAIR (2028)

Monica King

Monica King is an educational leader with 29 years of experience in public education, including 18 years as a school counselor in the Natchez-Adams School District. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jackson State University, a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Alcorn State University, and an Education Specialist degree in Counseling from Mississippi College.

Monica is committed to advancing the school counseling profession through servant leadership, collaboration, and advocacy. Since joining the MSSCA Board of Directors in 2022, she has served as Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee and as a member of Bylaws and Policies and Membership and Outreach Committees. She also serves on the Mississippi School Counseling Advisory Committee, the Get2College Advisory Council, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Crisis Recovery Network, a specialized team of trained school counselors prepared to support schools and communities across the 16-state SREB region following natural disasters and other critical incidents.

Monica is passionate about developing school counselors as leaders and empowering them to maximize their impact within their schools, districts, and communities. As Assistant Chair of MSSCA for the 2026–2027 term, Monica’s leadership is centered on strengthening member engagement and cultivating the next generation of school counseling leaders. She is committed to building connections among Mississippi counselors through meaningful collaboration, professional learning opportunities, and leadership development initiatives. Monica believes that investing in school counselors ultimately transforms the lives of the students and communities they serve. 

mamailto:monica.king@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org

BOARD MEMBER (2028)

JONATHAN BARNES

Jonathan is the school counselor for Walnut Attendance Center.  He returned to his hometown in 2025 and serves grades k-12 in several capacities.  He  served as the 7th-12th  counselor at Water Valley High School from 2017-2025.  In addition, he served  numerous roles with the district including the graduation/dropout committee, school improvement committee,  and the PBIS coordinator. His college and career initiatives have led to him being recognized by the Get 2 College Foundation as a Premiere School for College Application Days and FASFA Days.  Water Valley's annual signing day was awarded the school of excellence award in 2022/2023.    Jonathan has a strong passion for college and career counseling and many of his programs and ideas are now used across the state by career coaches.  Before  Water Valley, he was an elementary counselor with Desoto County Schools and helped in a collaboration with other elementary school counselors to hold monthly professional learning communities.  In his 20 years of education, he has worked as a high school biology teacher, served roles as a school counselor in grades k-12, and as a Career and Technical Education Counselor.

He is a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi where he earned his B.A. in Psychology/Biology in 2003.  While attending Ole Miss, he was active in the Student Alumni Council and served as an Ole Miss Ambassador.  He received his M.Ed. in Counselor Education in 2006.

Jonathan was named the Mississippi School counselor of the year in 2024.  He was named a Practitioner of Distinction by the University of Mississippi School of Education Alumni Association.  He serves as a member of the SREB Crisis Response Team.  He also is a member of Mississippi School Counselor Advisory Council.  He has served on the University of Mississippi School Counselor Panel and is a site approved internship supervisor. 

Jonathan is an active member of Bethlehem Church in Potts Camp, MS where he has served on the praise team and as a member of the sanctuary choir and where he currently works in the Children's ministry as a teacher.  When not at work or church you can find him enjoying an afternoon at Swayze Field cheering on the Rebel baseball team or a fall Saturday in the grove.  

mailto:jbarnes@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org

BOARD MEMBER (2027)

TREENECIA GARRAWAY

Dr. Treenecia R. Garraway began her service as a Professional School Counselor in 2011 - accomplishing her life-long dream. For nine years, she served as a high school counselor making positive impacts in the areas of cohort tracking, graduation rates, ACT participation, college admissions, FAFSA completion, and scholarships. She hosted one of the largest college fairs held at a high school, and was the first School Counselor in the Pinebelt to host a College Signing Day, both receiving media coverage. In 2020, she transitioned to Oak Grove Middle School where she currently serves as the 8th grade Counselor. Dr. Garraway sees her work as a ministry and not just a job. She pours her heart into every student and eagerly supports her fellow colleagues in their work as well. She is a proud alumna of both the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, and has obtained degrees in Psychology (BA), Counseling (MS), and Higher Education Administration (PhD). Additionally, she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where service to others is the core mission. 

 As a National Board Certified Counselor (NCC), National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), and Certified Life Coach, Dr. Garraway has assisted school counselors across the state with obtaining national board status, demonstrating her commitment to growing the profession. She has been active in professional organizations for counselors a volunteer, committee member, officer, and presenter. She was named School Counselor of the year for her region in 2016, and for the state in 2024 through another professional organization. Dr. Garraway was recently selected to serve on the Mississippi Department of Education's School Counselor Advisory Committee. She hopes that her service to MSSCA and MDE will equip her to continue efforts in encouraging, educating, empowering, and amplifying the voices of Professional School Counselors in our state and beyond.

mailto:tgarraway@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org

BOARD MEMBER (2029)

CASSANDRA HOLMAN

Mrs. Cassandra Holman has dedicated her career to education since 1995, serving students and families as a teacher and school counselor. Mrs. Holman began her career in Alabama, serving as a high school history teacher and school counselor at the elementary, middle, and high school levels before retiring in 2021. Still passionate about education, she moved her career to Mississippi, where she has worked at the elementary and middle school levels. She currently serves as a middle school counselor at St. Martin Middle School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Cassandra holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in school counseling from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Throughout her career, Mrs. Holman has been committed to supporting students by advocating and creating systems that allow all learners to thrive. During her time as an elementary school counselor in Mississippi, she played an instrumental role in helping her school achieve Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) status, demonstrating her continued commitment to a data-driven school counseling program. Mrs. Holman believes that school counseling is about making a difference in every student's life. She describes her mission as helping students succeed–one student, one relationship, and one opportunity at a time.

mailto:cholman@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org

BOARD MEMBER (2029)

CHRISTINA PALMER

Christina Palmer serves as the 7th and 8th grade school counselor at Senatobia Middle School and has worked in education since 2007 as both a teacher and school counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Delta State University and both her Master of Education in Counselor Education and Specialist in School Counselor Leadership from the University of Mississippi. Christina is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and National Certified School Counselor (NCSC). She is currently serving her second term on the Magnolia State School Counselor Association Board of Directors and previously served as an ASCA Affinity Group Leader for Elementary School Counselors. She is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for students, supporting the growth of fellow school counselors, and advocating for the profession. In addition to her professional leadership, Christina has served in leadership roles through organizations including Junior Auxiliary and Panola Playhouse. She enjoys collaborating with school counselors across Mississippi and believes strong relationships and shared ideas make the profession stronger for both counselors and the students they serve. 

mailto:cpalmer@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org

BOARD MEMBER (2027)

SEMONE OLIVE

Semone Olive has been serving in the Kosciusko School District since 2002.  In her current role as Director of Counseling and Behavior Specialist, she works to ensure that students K-12 have the supports they need to be successful.  Semone obtained her B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Masters of Science in Counselor Education from Mississippi State University before obtaining her Specialist in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.  Semone has been an active leader in her school, community, and state throughout her time as a school counselor and describes herself as a servant leader and an advocate for her school community and the profession of school counseling.

mailto:semone.olive@magnoliastateschoolcounselor.org