Rebekah de Peo-Christner ‘99 (Seattle, MA) is making a meaningful impact on student mental health and well-being through innovative counseling and restorative justice initiatives in Texas.
In 2020, de Peo-Christner founded the Denton Independent School District (ISD) Family Center, which provides more than 3,000 free counseling sessions annually to students, staff, families, and members of two neighboring rural school districts. The center offers individual, family, couples, and play therapy, helping remove financial barriers to essential mental health services.
De Peo-Christner also helped create the Wilson Restorative Action Plan (W.R.A.P.), an initiative that offers an alternative to traditional exclusionary school discipline. Rather than relying solely on suspension or removal from the classroom, W.R.A.P. addresses the underlying causes of student behavior while teaching communication, conflict resolution, and healthy problem-solving skills. The program emphasizes collaboration between students, families, and schools to support long-term success.
Currently serving as Assistant Director of Counseling and Social Work for Denton ISD, de Peo-Christner brings more than 27 years of experience in education and counseling to her work. She is also a licensed professional counselor supervisor, a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, and an adjunct faculty member at Texas Woman’s University.
In April 2026, de Peo-Christner was featured on the CharacterStrong Podcast, where she discussed how schools can address the root causes of student behavior and build stronger partnerships with families.
Learn more: Denton ISD Family Center | Wilson Restorative Action Plan | CharacterStrong Podcast
