Bio

Lisa Dierking is the Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). She joined DESE in 2022 when the SBMH section and her position was created. She values collaboration as evidenced by the creation of the SBMH Professionals Collaborative, Missouri Framework for SBMH, and Interagency SBMH Training Team. She leads a team to support several initiatives such as Suicide Prevention and Awareness, Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative, Stronger Connections Grant, Project AWARE Grant, and Missouri Healthy Schools Grant. Prior to working at DESE, Lisa served as a School Social Worker and Parent Educator for the Jefferson City School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Science in Social Work, and Educational Specialist in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Mental Health Practices in Schools.