Henderson began her career in the 1960s as an English teacher in California before transitioning to guidance counseling—a role she had aspired to since her teenage years when she longed for support during her parents' divorce. She firmly believed that guidance counselors could play a more critical role in shaping students’ lives and futures.
In the 1970s, alongside colleague Norman Gysbers, Henderson helped develop the Comprehensive Guidance Program, which consists of four main components: guidance, responsive services, individual planning, and system support. This framework revolutionized school counseling by ensuring students received a full continuum of services, from career guidance to personal support.
After serving nearly a decade as Coordinator of Guidance for the Orange County, California Department of Education, Henderson was recruited to San Antonio in 1982 to serve as Northside ISD’s Director of Guidance. She transformed the district’s counseling approach, shifting the paradigm from reactive to proactive support. Under her leadership, counselors no longer waited for students to seek help—they reached out first.
Her impact was recognized nationally. In 1987, just five years after her arrival, Northside ISD was named one of the top 10 elementary guidance and counseling programs in the country by the U.S. Department of Education. The Comprehensive Guidance Program she championed was later adopted by the Texas Education Agency and became the foundation for national counseling guidelines.
Henderson’s dedication to students was matched by her devotion to the counseling profession. She served in leadership roles for national and state counseling organizations, including as president of nearly every major counseling association in Texas. She authored more than a dozen books, published numerous articles, and led over 100 workshops nationwide. A lifelong educator, she also taught college courses, mentoring the next generation of school counselors.
Her contributions were widely recognized. She received lifetime achievement awards from both the American School Counselor Association and the Texas Counseling Association, among many other honors.
Henderson retired from Northside ISD in 2001 but remained deeply involved in the field, consulting with school districts nationwide and mentoring future generations of counselors. Her legacy lives on through the countless students, educators, and professionals she inspired, as well as the comprehensive counseling programs that continue to shape schools today. She passed away February 15, 2025, leaving behind a powerful legacy in school counseling. She is survived by her husband, Carl, and their two children.