Gravette High School counselor Lesa Eaves is retiring after nearly four decades of service to the schools. A lifelong resident of Northwest Arkansas, she grew up in Siloam Springs and now lives on her husband’s family farm in Gentry. Her career has spanned three districts: four years in Decatur, more than twenty in Siloam Springs, and the last six serving students and families at Gravette High School.
Lesa began her career teaching family and consumer science courses before transitioning into counseling, a move that allowed her to support students more directly as they navigated academic decisions, personal challenges, and long-term goals. Throughout her time in Gravette, she managed state testing, helped coordinate graduation, and supported the day-to-day logistics that kept things running smoothly behind the scenes. Her ability to handle challenges calmly and thoughtfully made her a trusted mentor and colleague.
For Mrs. Eaves, the most rewarding part of her job was helping students discover their interests and chart paths toward meaningful careers. “I liked talking to the kids about what they wanted to do,” she said, “You know, what do you like? What do you not like? Helping them make the missing connections.”
Over time, the focus of school counseling shifted, placing greater emphasis on crisis response and mental health intervention. No matter how her responsibilities evolved, she remained committed to helping students feel hopeful about their future. When asked what mattered most in her role, she said, “I think just showing up and being there and not overreacting and just trying to be a calm presence.”
The work of a school counselor is both vital and demanding. It means carrying the emotional weight of others, offering guidance in moments of uncertainty, and personal investment in the lives of countless students. After decades of meeting that challenge with care, Mrs. Eaves is looking forward to a new season of life. She plans to spend more time with her four grandchildren, catch up on mystery novels, learn to crochet, and give back through volunteer work. For now, she’s taking the fall to slow down and figure out what comes next. Gravette School District is grateful for her many years of service and the quiet strength she brought to our schools and students.
Thank you, Mrs. Eaves, for helping so many students discover what they’re good at, what they care about, and where they want to go next. Thank you for seeing the potential in students before they could see it for themselves, and for guiding them toward futures they didn’t yet know how to imagine. Thank you for carrying so much for so many people.