Ohio School Counselors

Ohio may best be known as the “Birthplace of Aviation,” but it may also be known as a leader in flight for professional school counseling.

With a focus on Each Child, Our Future, Ohio’s strategic plan for education seeks to ensure students are both challenged and prepared for the future. School counselors in this “Buckeye State” are intent on meeting the needs of the whole child – including the physical, social, and academic aspects of every student’s wellbeing.

In July 2019, Ohio invested millions to help districts and schools support their students’ academic achievement through mental health counseling, mentoring and after-school programs. This wellness initiative was a huge boost for school counselors across the state, and will continue to support comprehensive guidance programs for a long time to come.

The educational system in Ohio is geared towards removing barriers to school success so that all students have the opportunity to embrace a bright and hopeful future.

What do Ohio school counselors do?

Perhaps more than ever before, students need to see a connection between what they are learning in the classroom and their future careers. Ohio school counselors take seriously their state’s policy on career advising. Not only that, these counselors go above and beyond to implement systems and programs to address the whole child.

Here are few key things Ohio school counselors do:

1. Promote social-emotional learning

   Guiding students towards self-awareness, self-management, and social maturity, are ways school counselors in Ohio are able to help promote social-emotional learning. By developing empathy, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, students are better equipped to handle situations maturely and are better prepared for the social-emotional demands after high school. These elements of social-emotional learning give students the tools to become resilient and move forward towards college/career success.

2. Promote safe schools

   School counselors in Ohio make school safety a top priority by providing resources and practices to ensure students feel prepared for unexpected crisis and events. Through in-class sessions on bullying prevention, substance abuse, and emergency preparedness, school counselors provide education, instruction, and action plans for the safety of all student.

3. Promote family and community engagement

   Helping to guide the next generation to be responsible adults is a team effort. School counselors in Ohio work closely with families and their communities to promote teamwork in the education of its students. They help districts and schools create family and community partnerships that support learning and growing together. Through this action plan, they find positive action and participation from members of the community and family members alike.

4. Promote higher education and college/career planning

   Last but not least, school counselors promote higher learning and college/career planning for every student. With individualized counseling, as well as classroom instruction, counselors provide opportunities for all students to pursue the college route. For students who are not college bound, counselors act as liaisons to help find opportunities in the trades and workforce. No matter what, students are educated and informed of future possibilities and are equipped to plan accordingly.

Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Ohio?

Besides the reward of guiding and directing students into a bright and successful future, the school counseling profession has other benefits to be considered.

Here are a few reasons why someone should consider becoming a school counselor in Ohio:

• The Ohio Department of Education will continue to help districts plan and launch student wellness initiatives and support comprehensive school counseling services by offering tools and resources for success.
• Ohio’s no-cost, career planning system offers comprehensive, career exploration tools to help school counselors guide students and their families towards the best career option. This is one of many supportive resources school counselors in Ohio will find to be helpful to their profession.

As Ohio continues to be remembered as the “Birthplace of Aviation,” it is the hope of its educational department that it will also be remembered as an innovative and flight-bound state in the area of school guidance counseling. Truly, this state is a leader in promoting the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of America’s youth.

Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as an Ohio School Counselor.

Whether you are from Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling a highly rewarding and respected career.

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