By Ron Turbyfill

CIS Executive Director

SALISBURY — Jasmine B. Davis and Bonnie Harrell have joined the staff of Communities in Schools of Rowan County.

Davis is the new student support specialist at Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Elementary School.

Currently a graduate student at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, Davis comes to Communities in Schools with experience working with youth and community health. Most recently, she was an intern in the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office assisting incarcerated youthful offenders. She did assessments of clients’ needs, strengths and support networks and helped them develop action plans to educate and advise them using cognitive behavior therapy.

Davis is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and holds a bachelor of science in community health education. She is working to complete a master’s in social work.

Harrell will serve H.D. Isenberg Elementary as a student support specialist.

Harrell has had a long professional career in counseling. A native of Rowan County, she graduated from North Rowan High School. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from UNC-Charlotte. Her professional work has been in substance abuse counseling. She was a partner in private practice in the firm of Alternatives Counseling Inc. for 15 years.

Harrell is a certified substance abuse counselor and has served clients and families through the Rowan County Department of Social Services, Juvenile Court System and Timber Ridge Wilderness Camp. She has served on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Youth Services Bureau.