About Us
Leslie Treviño Buckmaster, MSW, PPSC
Owner & Founder, Magnolia Rise Co.
Leslie is a social worker with over a decade of experience in child welfare, school-based counseling, and psychotherapy. Her passion for this work grew from both her professional journey and her lived experiences. Raised in a single-parent immigrant household as the youngest of six, Leslie learned early how environment shapes opportunity. Her experiences navigating peer conflict, transitioning between different schools, and balancing academics with work laid the foundation for her dedication to supporting youth and strengthening school systems.
Leslie earned her B.A. in Human Development from California State University, Long Beach, and began her career with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, where she witnessed significant gaps in the systems intended to support children and families. She later completed her MSW at the University of Southern California and expanded her training in restorative practices, PBIS, and SEL, further solidifying her commitment to trauma-informed, healing-centered school environments.
Her deepest motivation, however, comes from her own journey as a single mother. As the parent of a neurodivergent child navigating social-emotional challenges and the profound grief of losing her father, Leslie experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to access emotional support in school settings, even as a school social worker herself. This personal experience illuminated the critical need for stronger, more compassionate systems of support within schools.
Rooted in this blend of personal insight and professional expertise, Leslie founded Magnolia Rise Co., a small Latina-owned practice dedicated to helping schools build resilient, connected, and emotionally supportive communities. Through trauma-informed SEL education, restorative practices, and holistic wellness frameworks, she partners with districts and non-public schools to strengthen schoolwide mental health systems so that every student feels seen, valued, and supported.
At her core, Leslie believes that when we nurture emotional wellness from the roots up, entire communities can rise.