Hopkins County Schools has announced that Dr. Whitney Peay will be the new Director of School Counseling and Mental Health Programs.

Her comprehensive background in clinical mental health, school counseling, crisis intervention, and counselor education will be an asset in this district leadership role. She most recently has served as a school counselor at Greenville Elementary School.

“I am excited to join Hopkins County Schools in this new role,” Peay said. “Counseling has been such a meaningful part of my life and career, and the opportunity to expand that work across an entire district is incredibly special to me. I look forward to building relationships, listening and learning, and working alongside passionate educators, families, and community partners to make sure every student feels supported, valued, and capable of reaching their potential. I am so grateful for this opportunity and excited for what we can accomplish together.”

Peay’s background includes serving as a mental health consultant and mental health counselor for Green River Regional Educational Cooperative. In these roles, she provided direct support to Kentucky school districts through the federal Project Prevent grant, developed district-wide mental health trainings, and served on a crisis response team. Her extensive clinical background includes working as an outpatient clinical counselor at Owensboro Health; and a foster care program counselor at Sunrise Children's Services.

"Dr. Peay brings a wealth of clinical and educational experience to Hopkins County Schools," said Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming. "Her dedication to student well-being and her extensive background in trauma-informed care align perfectly with our district's commitment to supporting the whole child."

She earned a doctorate in counselor education & supervision from University of the Cumberlands. She holds a specialist in education in clinical mental health counseling, master’s degree in education in school counseling, and a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders, all from Murray State University. She has served as an adjunct professor at MSU and is currently secretary of the West Kentucky Counseling Association. 

"As we continue to prioritize comprehensive mental health resources across our district, having a leader with Dr. Peay's dual expertise in counselor education and direct clinical practice will be transformative," Fleming said. "Her proven track record with initiatives like Youth Mental Health First Aid and proactive crisis response will be invaluable assets to our school community.