THRIBIMG IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BEYOND

Gena Rhone Archer is a native of Glen Allen, Virginia. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a M.Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University. A lifelong educator, Gena has worked as a school counselor on all levels Her first job out of graduate school was as an elementary school counselor with Norfolk Public Schools. After serving 3.5 years in that role, she moved to one of the high schools within Norfolk Public Schools. In 2004, Gena relocated to New York to work as a high school counselor at Pelham Memorial High School (PMHS). While at PMHS, Gena was a member of various committees (e.g. Cultural Competence Committee) and an advisor to different clubs (e.g. Access Creates Equity (A.C.E.). In 2013, Gena organized a Counselor/College Debrief, an opportunity for public and independent school counselors across lower Westchester to come together and discuss college outcomes.

In October 2018 and April 2019, Gena was a presenter at the Guidance Expo held at the Westchester County Center She and her colleagues from Scarsdale High School and Bronx High School of Science spoke on Introduction to College Counseling: Perspectives from High School Counselors. In an effort to pay it forward, Gena has served as an internship supervisor for students from New York University, University of Denver, College of New Rochelle and Manhattan College. Many of her interns are now employed as school counselors in New York. In 2021, Gena made the decision to move from Pelham Memorial High School to Pelham Middle School. Although only in her second year there, Gena is already collaborating with peers on ways to increase diversity in the upper level high school classes by starting conversations in the middle school In February 2022, Gena’s work at both the high school and middle school was recognized by the Progressive Women of Pelham when she was named as an example of Black Excellence.

Outside of work, Gena holds professional memberships in American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and Westchester Putnam Rockland Counselor Association (WPRCA). She is also a member of the alumni associations of U.Va. and VCU as well as the White Plains PTA. Finally, Gena is a member of the Pi Iota Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Westchester Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc She and her husband, Omar, live in White Plains with their children Brandon (15) and Halle (13)