MANSFIELD, Ohio — Their work is demanding, frustrating, rewarding and sometimes misunderstood. But day in and day out they play an essential role in student achievement.
The six counselors who serve Mansfield City Schools students share a common goal at every level: Help kids feel safe, be ready to learn and stay on track to graduate. They work as part of a team that includes teachers, principals and, occasionally, parents.
Not all kids face serious problems, of course. But many struggle with a lack of self-confidence, bullying or issues at home, all of which inhibit learning. In more extreme situations, some don’t feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
”The role of a counselor is to provide support for teachers and the principal by helping children to feel safe and be ready to learn,” said Linda Zakrajsek, the sole counselor for 578 children at Sherman Elementary School. “I do individual counseling and classroom lessons. Some students are referred by teachers, others walk in my door on their own.”
Zakrajsek, a certified professional clinical counselor, refers cases of abuse or neglect to authorities when warranted.
Taryn Nall provides counseling at Prospect and Woodland elementaries and the Spanish Immersion School, which have a combined enrollment of 645.
“Sometimes parents will call if they hear that their child visited the counselor,” Nall said. “I tell them it’s not like the child is in therapy. I explain the situation and my role and typically the parent feels better.”
Zakrajsek added, “Sometimes parents will call and say they want us to see their children.”
Nall said she has seen a big difference in kindergartners and first-graders from August to October in terms of successfully adapting to school routine.
“Some still have trouble making friends. That’s where I come in and try to help,” she said.
Tim Grassel is the counselor at Malabar Intermediate, which has an enrollment of 733 in fourth, fifth and sixth grades.
“A lot of what we do is under-the-radar. Many people just don’t know,” he said. “I deal with bullying at the bus stop or in the cafeteria when teachers are not around and a lot of home issues. When they come into my office kids will say ‘I don’t want to say anything.’ Then 20 seconds later they open up when they realize they’re in a non-threatening situation.
“Some students are having their first experience with boundaries. They think they know more than they really do.”
Middle school counselor Kathi Gorbett spends the majority of her time making sure that class schedules and grade cards are accurate for 485 students. But Gorbett also has face-to-face contact with students and she identified a problem which all of the counselors refer to as “girl drama.” It’s about cliques and wanting to be popular.
“Some girls will tell their innermost secrets to someone they don’t know very well. That girl tells someone else, who tells someone else and it ends up on Facebook,” said Senior High counselor Tammy Deitsch. “Words are real. They matter.”
Gorbett said there is a clear difference between the actions of girls and boys.
“Boys will let an issue go. Sometimes they fight but the next day they’re friends again,” she said. “Girls won’t let it go. They all say there are friends, but they talk about each other. A circle of girls will tell each other things that a lot of time never was said.”
Grassel described “girl drama” as an ongoing problem.
“Sometimes it can start with a simple look – the way one girl looks at another,” he said.
Both Nall and Zakrajsek said they have seen it among some girls in the elementary grades.
Senior High counselor Pam Jones said she and Deitsch deal with students who have real-life, adult-level problems outside of school.
“We are trying to keep them on track academically,” Jones said. “Too often it’s a student saying ‘My parents kicked me out.’ We get referrals from teachers but a lot of times kids will just walk in. One big issue is kids who don’t have five credits after ninth grade. We are targeting that with (principal) Dr. Hernandez.”
Mansfield City Schools has a contract with Catalyst Life Services to provide school-based mental health services but the day-to-day counseling demands are on Jones and Deitsch, who divide the 940 enrollment at Senior High.
The district’s high poverty rate and transient population are factors.
“I enroll children every week,” said Jones, a certified professional counselor.
Deitsch said some adults have a narrow understanding of the counselors’ role, based on their own experiences.
“A lot of our students are the first generation of their families planning to go to college. Our biggest challenge is keeping them on track academically,” said Deitsch, who also is a licensed social worker. “Some kids are helping to support their families or are supporting themselves. They have adult responsibilities. If our lives were like theirs, we would be overwhelmed.”
For some students life is compounded by a feeling that they aren’t safe in their neighborhoods.
“Many kids feel school is the safest place to be,” Deitsch said. “On Fridays some are afraid to go home for the weekend or during break periods.”
Zakrajsek sees the same thing.
“Even at the elementary level, we have kids who say they are afraid to sleep at night because of the potential for trouble in their neighborhood. Those kids aren’t afraid of what’s in the newspaper because they live it,” she said.
All six counselors said they are stretched too thin. Superintendent Brian Garverick agrees.
“We had to make significant cuts in the spring of 2014 when we developed the required financial recovery plan to eventually move us out of fiscal emergency,” he said. “As we recover and move forward I do support the eventual addition of more counselors. I understand and respect their importance.”
Jones said the superintendent means what he says.
“Mr. Garverick believes in counseling. He supports the work we do,” she said.
Deitsch said the counselors share a common bond.
“I have a passion for students. All of us here have it,” she said. “Studies show that students who thrive could cite one person who made a difference, who believed in them.”
Gorbett nodded in agreement. “I might be the light for that one kid.”
