Sherry Slankard graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a M.S.Ed. in School Counseling. She has over 25 years experience working with at-risk youth through foster parenting and crisis intervention for runaway youth. She has previously served as a Site Manager of an after school program and is a huge proponent of quality after school initiatives. In her current role, she serves as a School Counselor at the Newton Elementary School in Newton, Illinois. Sherry received training from the Aha! Process, Inc. in 2011, and became a life time certified trainer of the Ruby Payne’s “Bridges Out of Poverty” in 2014. She is an advocate for students and families living in poverty. Through this advocacy, she has facilitated workshops to educators and community stakeholders about poverty, social emotional learning, and mental health awareness. In addition, she is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer and has served on committees to address the stigma and lack of mental health services and  in rural communities.