(This is one of our profiles on this year’s recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2024 Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. We would like to thank Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com for the headshots).
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Name: Danyelle McDaniel O’Neal
Age: 38
Employer: Lincoln Parish School Board- Choudrant Elementary
Title: School Mental Health Counselor
Hometown: Pine Prairie, LA
Years Living in Ruston: 15 years
Civic Volunteer Organizations: Junior Auxiliary of Ruston- Projects Chair Board Member, CES Strive Club Sponsor, CES Cheerleading Sponsor, CES Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sponsor, Upward Basketball Cheer Coach, Ruston Dixie Softball Coach, Student Council Sponsor- Simsboro School, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Children’s Ministry Teacher at Temple Baptist Church
Professional Highlights: Teacher of the Year 2012-13 Simsboro School, Founder of Masterpiece event for girls in 3-8 grade
Lauren Casey, Choudrant Elementary teacher, on Danyelle O’Neal:
Danyelle O’Neal truly believes that is takes a village, and some flair, to be successful, and that is what she does for her community. If the village is not there, she builds it. Through a fashion show, music, and art, she created a special event for young ladies by bringing in strong women in the Ruston community to empower them to be successful. If she is not building, then she is pouring herself into every part of her community by supporting the kids, parents, friends, mothers, and her church. I get a front row view of how she greets her students (sometimes while wearing a Christmas tree suit) at car rider line, sponsors the cheer team, teaches SEL lessons, and leads Sunday School classes. She even gives up her lunch breaks to host a lunch bunch group with our older students where she dives into meaningful conversations over chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. She rallied her community to help her pray over our students and school, she even encouraged parents to bling out their cars in posters and streamers to motivate our students for state testing. Danyelle even boogied down at the Silent Disco that she hosted for good behavior. Her magical rolling counseling cart does not just reach the students within the school, but she takes her lessons outside the classroom. By creating Instagram reels and TickTocks she can easily reach the parents of those students who just need a tip or trick to life with kids, or a good laugh while she and her own kids try crazy Sonic drinks. This Tech loving, bucket filling, prayer warrior is a beacon in our Ruston community. It is her mission for everyone to understand their gift and how it can play a role in our great city.
Q&A with Danyelle O’Neal:
What makes Lincoln Parish special?
When I moved to Ruston in 2009 after marrying a Ruston native, I had no idea how special this community would prove to be. The residents of Lincoln Parish are so supportive and willing to serve to make new things successful. I am amazed how our town is so quick to rally behind a cause and support others in any way possible. Most recently, I coordinated my first ever Masterpiece event with Temple Baptist Church. I had so many individuals offer to help and serve in ways to improve the lives of our younger generation of girls. It amazed me how these individuals stepped up sharing their professional and personal expertise and advice to pour into the youth of our community.
How do you see your role/place in making our parish such a wonderful place to call home?
I’m a fifth-generation educator so helping younger generations is in my blood. I’m a helper at heart. Any way that I can help, encourage, or support someone is the role I want to play. Working as a School Mental Health Counselor allows me to provide social emotional learning lessons to over 500 students each month. I love being able to provide students with an emotional vocabulary and the foundation to manage their feelings and healthy ways to cope. I have a heart for children and adolescents as well as their parents. I’m a working mom of two, and I want to support other moms in my community just like I do with my students at school. I share many of the tips and strategies I’ve learned in my years as a counselor via social media as RealFeelsMom in hopes of helping others. I truly want to be a voice of providing proactive strategies to help our youth live happy and successful lives.
Who has played a role in your professional development and why?
I have been blessed with so many wonderful supervisors that played a significant role in my professional development. First, I would say my mom because she really encouraged me to pursue a helping profession and was very supportive of me working in a school setting. Another strong and lasting influence on me was Mrs. Susan Clark, one of my first supervisors out of college. Mrs. Clark was an amazing mentor who encouraged me to see ways to help others beyond just the 8-5 job. She showed me how to pour into others even if they weren’t my designated client. Mrs. Clark showed me how to use my Christian faith in every aspect of my life and truly impacted me in ways that I know are still in play today.
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