MANSFIEELD – The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Richland County Foundation Grant for $30,000 from the Connections Fund for MOESC’s High School Speech-Language Pathology Mentoring Program.
This innovative program addresses the growing shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in educational settings by inspiring and preparing the next generation of professionals in this critical field.
“On behalf of the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Board of Governors and Administration, I would like to thank the Richland County Foundation and the Connections Fund Advisory Committee for supporting the High School Speech-
Language Pathology (SLP) Mentoring Program,” said MOESC Superintendent Kevin Kimmel.
“We are excited to get into all the Richland County Schools and share information with our students about the rewarding career opportunities in the field of SLP. Our goal is for our students to be exposed to what an SLP does to help students to be successful in school.
“We have a very talented group of SLPs doing an amazing job in our districts, and we want them to serve as mentors and role models for the next generation of SLPs.”
The High School SLP Career Mentoring Program offers juniors and seniors 60 hours of immersive career preparation experiences including mentorship with in-district SLPs, curriculum aligned to SLP/Educational Aide Licensure and career pathway advising.
The program focuses on students with an aptitude and interest in health sciences, offering them hands-on learning and professional development within Mid-Ohio ESC school districts.
With a projected 27% increase in educational SLP positions in Ohio by 2030 and nearly 40% of current SLPs planning to retire in the next 6-10 years, the demand for qualified professionals is rising.
This program aims to close this gap by identifying and nurturing students’ potential, providing them with structured career preparation and mentorship.
The program will serve 10 high school juniors and seniors, offering career readiness skills and credentials while engaging a larger number of students in each Richland County High School in grades 9-10 in Lunch & Learn events about SLP careers.
Elementary students benefit indirectly through informal interactions with high school mentees supervised by certified SLPs.
Jennifer Crum, Director of Student Services said, “The support from the Richland County Foundation allows Mid-Ohio ESC to firmly establish the initial phase of the SLP Development Program, with High School SLP Mentorship in Richland County.
“I am very excited to seamlessly support our community of students interested in the Mid-Ohio SLP career pipeline from High School to Grad School!”
The grant was developed to directly support the Business Advisory Council’s mission of connecting students with meaningful career pathways. Although framed as job shadowing, the program will offer students a paid internship experience.
Participants will be compensated for their time, and work closely with an SLP to design and implement a project of real world significance that culminates in a final presentation. This structure mirrors the real world responsibilities of the professional environment.
Amy Wood, Director of Grants & Special Projects who convenes the Business Advisory Council remarked, “By integrating career mentorship and an authentic project approach, embedded with industry recognized credentials, we expect to ensure students are prepared for acceptance into an undergraduate program in speech, a job in an educational setting or both.
Starting in January 2025, the program will feature one-on-one mentorship with practicing SLPs, 20 hours of job shadowing and regular coaching sessions. Participants will complete asynchronous online coursework aligned with SLP Aide Licensure and the Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal.
The program aims to inspire students toward speech-language pathology careers, addressing workforce shortages and enhancing school access to services while equipping students with valuable skills for their future.
The Richland County Foundation is one of the largest private sources of grant making in Richland County and administers over 430 charitable funds established by individuals, families, and businesses.
The mission of the Richland County Foundation is to improve and enhance the quality of life in Richland County through strategic philanthropy and community leadership.
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties.
Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.