Dr. Kathleen A. Leynes, DSW, LCSW has almost 20 years of experience in education, social work and youth development research. Kathleen worked 15 years as a high school social worker where she co-led her district’s social-emotional learning professional development strategy and co-created a school-wide advisory model and coaching plan. Her passion for social-emotional learning and strengthening relationships across school communities led her to a doctoral degree in social work where she studied school social workers’ impact on social-emotional school climate.

Outside of her work at Youth Guidance, Kathleen is an adjunct social work professor at Aurora University. She enjoys travel, food and enjoying food while traveling with her family and friends.