Tyra Bell Woods serves as a licensed school psychologist at Newport News Public Schools in Virginia. Significantly, Woods is currently the youngest doctoral level licensed school psychologist in the system, something that makes her all the more effective at connecting with and helping young people overcome their daily obstacles.

The daughter of Tyrone and Rosalind Bell, Tyra says that she cultivated a passion for mental health and working with children early on.

So much so that after graduating from Plymouth High School in 2004, Woods attended Winston-Salem State University, where she majored in Psychology and Elementary Education.

After graduating from Winston-Salem in 2008, Woods relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where continued her education journey at Tennessee State University. Here, she completed her Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision.

After graduating in 2011, Woods would go on to work in several leadership capacities within the mental health, counseling and education arenas.

During this period, Woods says that she noticed that there was a significant need for but ultimately a shortage of licensed school psychologists.

Believing that she could fulfill that gap in the industry, Woods decided to pursue her doctorate in School Psychology through Capella University, something that was paid for by her current employer.

For Woods, fulfilling that area of need paid dividends as after graduating from the rigorous program ahead of schedule, she settled in as Newport News Public Schools’ psychologist.

“These days I am a licensed psychologist and I primarily work with adolescents,” she says proudly. “I’ve always had a passion for mental health and dealing with people who were going through difficulties in that area. I was particularly interested in adolescents and kiddos that just needed that extra bit of support.”

To this end, Woods’ role is one that requires her to conduct assessments, provide counseling where necessary and work alongside school personnel and families to address learning, behavioral, and emotional issues students may have...