“I am deeply honored to receive the Mental Health Leadership Award. This recognition is not about me alone, but about the many students, colleagues, and community members who have inspired and supported this work. Mental health advocacy is a shared journey, and I see this award as a reminder of the importance of continuing to listen, learn, and create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and valued. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute, and I remain committed to working alongside others to build a culture of care and resilience.”

Tony Kissell is the adjustment counselor at Grafton Middle School, where he leads Tier 2 and 3 supports, crisis response, and case management. He launched the school’s Signs of Suicide program with universal depression screening and opt-in CBT groups, and is expanding to anxiety screening in 2025–26. Tony also helped create community forums to share SEL data and secured grant funding to implement a DBT-based curriculum for students with more intensive needs. He collaborates closely with district teams to align mental health systems and design individualized Tier 3 supports using structured case planning.