Welcome to West - 

My name is Joan (Henley) McRae and I am the School Counselor at West Smiths Station Elementary.  I have been a counselor with Lee County Schools since 1998.

Smiths Station isn't just where I work, it has been my home since 1976.  After graduating from Smiths Station High School and attending college it is the community where my husband and I have chosen to live, attend church and raise our 3 sons.  

Education is so important, so my college years were spent earning a B.S. in Family and Child Development (Auburn University) and a M.S. in Community Counseling (Troy State University). After working 11 years as a community mental health counselor for the State of Georgia, I returned to school so that I could work with children.  In 1998 I received a M.S. in School Counseling (Columbus State University) joined Lee County Schools and here I am.

I absolutely love what I do!  Having the opportunity to work with students each day is my honor.  I want to encourage each child and instill the fact that they are special, capable and have the ability to impact our world with kindness and hope.

I am excited to see a new school year and a new group of students.  Hopefully they will learn, very quickly, that I am here to help and provide guidance if they have a need.  I look forward to meeting all of our students and parents, so please let me know if I can be of help.