RPS News Details

Representation at the Center

Anne Harris greets students and families with warm smiles as they arrive for the school day at Bellevue Elementary. Her presence is a constant source of comfort for students, many of whom have come to know her as a trusted mentor and advocate. For 24 years, Mrs. Harris has dedicated herself to the role of school counselor within RPS, with 21 of those years spent at Bellevue. Her passion for creating a nurturing environment and fostering leadership has shaped the lives of countless students.

When asked who inspired her to pursue school counseling, Mrs. Harris immediately named Joyce Williams, her own high school counselor. “Growing up in a rural area that lacked much diversity, both in the student body and the staff, Mrs. Williams became a role model for me,” she shares. “She supported African American students and ensured we had access to various opportunities.” That early influence ignited Mrs. Harris’ own mission to champion student success.

‘I love broadening students’ horizons and showing them that there are no barriers to what they can achieve’

At Bellevue, her leadership role as the Community of Caring Lead Teacher is one of the many ways she helps students thrive. “Community of Caring is based on five core values that are integral to student success,” she explains. One of her favorite initiatives is Dragon Delivery, Bellevue’s in-house postal system. Each week, students write kind postcards to one another, while student leaders handle the entire process—picking up, sorting, and delivering mail. “It’s a beautiful way to build leadership, promote kindness, and teach teamwork and responsibility,” Mrs. Harris notes.

Her passion for reading and representation shines through in her work on the “100 Black Men Read” initiative, which earned Bellevue national recognition. “Men volunteered to read African American literature to students throughout February,” she recalls. “It exposed students to positive Black male role models and cultivated an appreciation for reading.”

Mrs. Harris’ work extends beyond the classroom with the organization of Bellevue’s annual Career Day. “It’s one of the most demanding parts of my job but also the most rewarding,” she says. “I love broadening students’ horizons and showing them that there are no barriers to what they can achieve.”

Her connection to Black history is deeply personal and transformative. She speaks passionately about Dr. Boykin Sanders, a distinguished professor at Virginia Union University who has led over 1,500 students to Africa to explore its rich history. Mrs. Harris had the life-changing experience of traveling with Dr. Sanders to Ghana twice. “Those trips shaped who I am,” she shares. “They gave me a profound sense of pride in my ancestry, and I pass that knowledge on to my students.”

Representation is a key pillar of her counseling approach. Her office library is filled with books by African American authors featuring diverse characters, carefully organized for students and staff to explore. Career Day presenters are thoughtfully selected to reflect a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Harris hopes Bellevue’s school counseling program continues to follow the framework established by the American School Counselor Association National Model, ensuring that counselors spend the majority of their time in direct service to students. She also emphasizes the importance of collaboration with other mental health professionals to provide comprehensive student support. “I hope Black history continues to be woven into everyday learning through consistent and intentional practices,” she says. “It’s essential for students to see role models who look like them and understand where they came from.”

At the heart of it all, Mrs. Harris shares her greatest goal: “As a school counselor, I want to provide a safe space and supportive learning environment for all students, regardless of their background and circumstances.” Her work, rooted in love and history, continues to help Bellevue students thrive.