Laverne Williams-Parrish

Laverne Williams-Parrish, a veteran English teacher at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, will provide psychological help to individuals, couples, families and groups as a licensed mental-health counselor in Eatonville.

She sees her counseling job, which she has been doing on an occasional basis for 14 years -- usually for free -- as providing an important service.

It also "keeps me from being bored," says Williams-Parrish, who has taught math, reading, gifted and exceptional-education classes in her 30-year teaching career.

It was exceptional-ed teaching that led her to pursue an advanced degree in mental-health counseling.The training helped her in the classroom, and now she hopes it will provide not just summer employment but a part-time job to keep her busy and challenged when her teaching career ends.