IMPACT Grant Candidate Spotlight

Tracey Housley Duez brings extensive educational credentials to Lipscomb University's School Counseling Program as an IMPACT grant recipient. With a B.A. in English (minor in Secondary Education), B.S. in Communications, M.S. in English Education, and two Education Specialist degrees in Administration and Supervision and Curriculum and Instruction, Tracey has built a strong foundation for her counseling journey. 

 

Currently teaching ACT Preparation, Introduction to Business, and Principles of Office Applications at Riverdale High School, she discovered her counseling path through her natural tendency to support students beyond academics. Tracey balances her professional life with family commitments, spending weekends supporting her three daughters' activities from cheerleading to following the UTK Pride of the Southland Band. Her personal interests include riding 4-wheelers, playing family card games, photography, and caring for her cats. 

 

The School Counseling Program arrived at a pivotal time in Tracey's life, strengthening her faith while teaching her valuable lessons about resilience, hope, and empathy. Her approach to counseling emphasizes addressing students' mental health as a foundation for academic success. 
 

"Instead of only worrying about a student's academic needs, I see the importance of addressing their mental health needs first, because until those needs are met, nothing else matters to them." 

 

Through the IMPACT grant, she continues developing the skills to build trust with students while proactively recognizing situations requiring support, preparing her to make meaningful contributions to the school counseling profession.